Happy birthday to Raheem Sterling! Man City star turns 26 today

Today we celebrate the 26th birthday of Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling by taking a brief look back on his career story.

Raheem Shaquille Sterling is already regarded as one of English football’s finest talents and perhaps in all of Europe as well.

The Jamaican-born winger moved to London at the age of five and began his football career at Queens Park Rangers. A move to Liverpool followed in 2010, where he developed into an exciting young prospect.

By time he turned 20 in December 2014, Sterling had long since been a regular in the Reds first-team squad and won the Golden Boy award.

🤯 Raheem Sterling's individual awards since joining #ManCity:

🏅 #PL Player of the Month [x2]
🏅 #UCL Squad of the Season [x2]
🏅 #PFA Team of the Year [x1]
🏅 #PFA Y. Player of the Year [x1]
🏅 #FWA Footballer of the Year [x1]
🏅 #BEDSA Sportsman of the Year [x1]

⚡️ 𝗥𝗦𝟳. pic.twitter.com/Rg2GmpP5FT

— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 8, 2020

But a contract dispute one year later paved the way for a reported €63.7m transfer to Manchester City. It made him the most expensive English footballer in history at the time, and he quickly lived up to his price tag.

Sterling has been an indispensable figure in the City squad ever since, having bagged 106 goals and 81 assists in only 259 appearances. He also played prominent roles in the club’s back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017/18 and 2018/19.

On the individual front, meanwhile, Sterling won the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year in 2018/19.

The 26-year-old has also been a regular in the English national team since debuting in November 2012. He’s already featured in two World Cups and one European championship.

Everyone here on Ace Football wishes Raheem a happy 26th birthday and all the best for the upcoming year.

Here are some of the best tributes on Twitter today.

🎂 Join us in wishing @Sterling7 a Happy 26th Birthday!

👕 259 Appearances
⚽ 106 Goals
🅰️ 60 Assists

🏆 2 Premier Leagues
🏆 1 FA Cup
🏆 4 League Cups
🏆 1 Community Shield

🏅 2 PL POTM
🏅 1 PFA TOTY
🏅 1 YPOTY
🏅 1 FWA FOTY#ManCity | #MCFC pic.twitter.com/oVUp8rPJ0w

— City Chief (@City_Chief) December 8, 2020

🎂 Happy 26th Birthday, @sterling7!

👕 259 Apps
⚽️ 106 Goals
🅰️ 81 Assists
🏆 League Cup [x4]
🏆 Premier League [x2]
🏆 Charity Shield [x1]
🏆 FA Cup [x1]

🔷 T̶H̶A̶T̶.̶ 𝗛𝗘. 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦. 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦.#MCFC | @ManCity | #ManCity pic.twitter.com/ek3MWNruDN

— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 8, 2020

Happy birthday @sterling7 🥳

The England and Man City attacker is 26 today!

A role model on and off the pitch 🙌🔥#beINUCL pic.twitter.com/ktYC7qFEUK

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 8, 2020