As we all know, it was meant to be the perfect move, Real Madrid purchasing for a world-record £80million transfer fee the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year, who himself had always dreamt of wearing the most prestigious shirt in club football.
But for Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid dream has not worked out at all.
Visibly unhappy after Real got knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the first knockout stage yet again, Ronaldo is not having the golden year he (and millions across the world) expected.
Madrid seems to be, in a sporting context, a mourning city, as almost everyone involved with the city's biggest club ponders on what has been another failed season. This European loss also adds to the failure of Real's defeat at the hands of colossal giant-killing minnows Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey earlier this season.
Real Madrid only have La Liga title left to play for now, as their Catalan counterparts FC Barcelona look to emulate the success of La Tripla Corona they expertly achieved last campaign.
Thus for Cristiano Ronaldo, the dream of rising high above Barcelona for Real Madrid and achieving critical acclaim has not become the reality he thought it would.
Compare that to the current success Manchester United appear to be having, and one surely must wonder - did Ronaldo really think through his move to Real Madrid? Because at the moment, "it's all gone Ron for Cristiano."
United have clearly overcome the Portuguese winger's almost deleterious departure, with Wayne Rooney emulating the success of his exotic predecessor.
Manchester United, since the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, have won the League Cup, beat AC Milan (the team who won at the Santiago Bernabeu) 3-2 at the San Siro and 4-0 at Old Trafford to make the quarterfinals of the Champions League, and are very much in the race for the Premier League title.
Contrast that to Ronaldo's current employers, who got knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon and got knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Alcorcon.
They are level on points with Barcelona in La Liga, but many in World Football think that prize isn't as great as winning the Premier League.
So despite president Florentino Perez spending £232million on the world's best players such as Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Xabi Alonso (as well as Ronaldo), Real Madrid have not improved or achieved much success at all.
And for Cristiano Ronaldo, it can appear worse when you look at what United achieved in the six years he was at Old Trafford, and what Real have achieved in the same period.
Manchester United won three Premier League titles, three League Cup titles, an FA Cup title, a UEFA Champions League title, a FIFA World Club Cup title, and two FA Community Shield titles in Ronaldo's six year stay.
In that same time, Real Madrid have won just two La Liga titles, only one Copa del Rey title, and a pathetic one Supercopa de España title.
Therefore, after analysing Real Madrid's current performances and those in Ronaldo's six year United timeline, it makes one wonder why Cristiano Ronaldo chose to leave Manchester United.
A very large salary, as well as the fame and prestige that comes with walking out for Real Madrid onto the pitch at the Bernabeu were probably considerable factors in his transfer decision.
But for a player who has all the money he could need, why could he not have stayed at the club he was at, a club which arguably is as prestigious as Real Madrid and who have had more success in recent times?
Then again, it's not a problem for Manchester United. They gratefully received a brilliant bank boost of £80million in a move which has allowed Wayne Rooney to be the club's talisman with very similar success.
Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer was in the best interests of Manchester United, and perhaps Real Madrid, but was it in the best interest of the player himself?
At this rate, the answer probably has to be a resounding "no."
Yoosof Farah is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, the open source sports network.
