Ex-Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has shared an old picture of him playing against Cristiano Ronaldo in the Premier League.

Wheater, now 33-years-old and playing for Oldham Athletic, took to Instagram yesterday to share the time he came up against five-time Ballon d'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

A product of the Boro academy, Wheater made 157 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2011.

He quickly developed a reputation for being something of a 'hard man' at the back and after his Boro exit, went on to play 236 times for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League, Championship and League One.

Now playing in League Two, Wheater has recalled showing Ronaldo 'down the line' at Old Trafford:

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The pair's career took a slightly different trajectory from the times they met in the Premier League - whilst Wheater enjoyed his extended spell at Bolton, Ronaldo went on to score 451 goals in 438 games for Madrid, before joining Juventus in 2018.

His last season with United in the Premier League was the 2008/09 campaign. English football fans knew he was a special player but nobody would've predicted just how successful a player he'd eventually become.

Wheater's post also represents a different time in Boro's history - they were a top-flight team from 1998 to 2009, and have only played a single season in the Premier League since.

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The verdict

Many footballers, prestigious or not so, can boast the title of playing against Ronaldo.

Wheater was a fine defender in his time at Boro and he's enjoyed a solid career in the Football League since. The days of Boro facing the world's best are long gone though, and not looking likely to return any time soon.