The summer of 2005 brought winds of change to Artemio Franchi. With Del Piero retired and Kaká as the new number 10, Pablo Lombardi made a decision that would alter the club's destiny: Cristiano Ronaldo would become their new center forward.
"You have everything to be the best striker in the world," Pablo told him in his office, showing videos of Van Basten and Batistuta. "Speed, power, hunger. You just have to believe it."
The Portuguese, now 20 with muscles forged in Fiorentina's gym, nodded with determination:
"I'll make them forget everyone who came before me."
The Birth of a Predator
Preseason became a tactical laboratory. Pablo designed a revolutionary 4-3-3:
Buffon in goal
Ramos and Nesta as defensive pillars
Xavi and Pirlo pulling the strings
Kaká as a free-roaming playmaker
Ronaldo as the lethal striker
The first test came against Inter in the Italian Super Cup:
15': Ronaldo latched onto Pirlo's through ball, accelerated like a train, and finished past Toldo.
44': Magnificent header from Jankulovski's cross.
89': Pressed high, stole the ball, dribbled past three defenders, and scored.
3-0 final. Capello, then Inter's coach, declared:
"They've created a monster. That Portuguese plays like he has rockets in his boots."
The Transformation
Serie A became his proving ground:
Fiorentina 5-1 Roma
September 18, 2005
Ronaldo's hat-trick (two right-footed, one header)
Two assists to Kaká
Totti, rival and friend, told him afterward:
"I hate to say it, but you're Batistuta's heir."
In the Champions League, his coronation came against Arsenal:
Round of 16 - First Leg
*February 21, 2006 - Highbury*
33': Controlled an aerial ball with his chest, turned Campbell, and fired into the corner.
77': Ran 70 meters on a counterattack to seal the 2-0.
Wenger compared him to Thierry Henry:
"But with more hunger. Much more."
The Perfect Duo
The Kaká-Ronaldo partnership became deadly:
Kaká: Through balls, late runs
Ronaldo: Dribbling, finishing, relentless pressing
In the Derby della Italia against Juventus:
11': One-two combination between them. Ronaldo scored.
67': Kaká dribbled past three players and assisted Ronaldo. 3-1 final.
Buffon, from his goal, joked:
"They're like twins reading each other's minds."
The European Crown
The 2005-06 Champions League pitted them against Ronaldinho's Barcelona in the semifinals:
First leg (Camp Nou): 2-2 draw (Ronaldo brace)
Second leg (Florence): 3-1 win (Ronaldo goal + assist)
The final in Paris was their masterpiece:
Fiorentina 2-1 Lyon
*May 17, 2006 - Stade de France*
28': Ronaldo headed in the opener.
73': Juninho equalized with a free-kick.
89': Kaká's inch-perfect pass found Ronaldo for the winner.
At the final whistle, the Portuguese ran to embrace Pablo:
"Thank you for believing."
The Legacy of the 7
The season ended with:
Scudetto (102 points, a record)
Champions League (Ronaldo: 12 goals)
Ballon d'Or Bronze for CR7
During the celebrations, Buffon lifted Ronaldo onto his shoulders:
"This is the future."
As flares lit up the Ponte Vecchio, Matías Fernández watched from the sidelines, knowing his time would soon come.
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