| There aren't a lot of soccer players in | | | | officials decided he needs more time in |
| the world today that can honestly state | | | | the Portuguese league before they sign |
| they are more popular than Cristiano | | | | him. |
| Ronaldo. Except for a few already | | | | Cristiano Ronaldo Biography - Sporting |
| established super stars such as | | | | Lisbon |
| Ronaldinho or David Beckham, Cristiano | | | | Being taken in the senior squad of |
| Ronaldo is probably the most popular | | | | Sporting meant the young player's first |
| rising star on the pitch. | | | | contact with professional football. |
| His good looks combined with his awesome | | | | Although he didn't play regularly, the |
| repertoire of Cristiano Ronaldo soccer | | | | few moments that he did get on the pitch |
| tricks and a hint of trademarked | | | | were greeted with cheers from the |
| Cristiano Ronaldo goals made him reach | | | | Sporting fans, who loved Cristiano |
| the level of fame on which he is basking | | | | Ronaldo's soccer tricks. In 2 seasons |
| in the spotlight sun today. | | | | with Sporting's senior squad, Ronaldo |
| This Cristiano Ronaldo biography will | | | | got to play 28 matches, scoring 3 times |
| try to take you through his career and | | | | before he was picked up by Manchester |
| although it's a rare case that a player | | | | United's scouts, at age 18. |
| who is still in his early 20s receives a | | | | Cristiano Ronaldo Biography - Manchester |
| biography, I'm sure you'll agree that a | | | | United |
| Cristiano Ronaldo profile is in order, | | | | Sir Alex Ferguson, manager and coach of |
| considering his huge talent and fame. | | | | Manchester United desperately needed a |
| Cristiano Ronaldo Biography - Youth | | | | quality right midfielder in 2003, as |
| Clubs | | | | David Beckham had just left the club for |
| Born in Madeira to a family where soccer | | | | Real Madrid. |
| was cherished, Cristiano Ronaldo started | | | | Bringing an 18-year old Portuguese |
| playing for a local amateur youth team | | | | player to replace an international |
| called Andorinha, where his father | | | | super-star like Beckham didn't seem like |
| handled the equipment and acted as a kit | | | | a good idea at first, but from his first |
| man. | | | | season Cristiano Ronaldo's goals proved |
| Cristiano was 8 when he joined Andorinha | | | | decisive and he quickly gained the love |
| and by the time he was 10, he already | | | | of the Red Devils' fans. |
| sparked the curiosity of some of | | | | In his following seasons at Manchester, |
| Portugal's biggest clubs. This led him | | | | with more and more trust coming from Sir |
| to sign for the local first-division | | | | Alex Ferguson and the team's fans, |
| team CD Nacional, where he would join | | | | Cristiano Ronaldo developed into an |
| the youth club and immediately make an | | | | extraordinary player that is now feared |
| impact, helping his team win the youth | | | | by even the sturdiest defenders out |
| championship the following year. | | | | there. |
| After just 1 year at Nacional, he was | | | | Despite the fact that he is just 22 |
| offered a youth contract by bigwigs | | | | years of age right now, Cristiano |
| Sporting Lisbon, who are internationally | | | | Ronaldo already has 208 professional |
| renowned for having one of the best | | | | matches and 53 goals (190 matches and 50 |
| youth training facilities in the World. | | | | goals for Manchester, the others for |
| The young player fit right in at | | | | Sporting) and 46 caps in the national |
| Sporting and started scoring regularly, | | | | squad, with a tally of 17 goals for |
| although he was way too fond on his | | | | Portugal. Impressive stats for such a |
| dribble at that point. Despite this | | | | youngster. |
| short coming, he was taken in to various | | | | The best part is that with each passing |
| levels of the Portugal national youth | | | | year Cristiano Ronaldo improves his game |
| squad, finally getting his big break at | | | | even further, so don't be surprised if |
| the UEFA under 17 Championship in 2001. | | | | in a couple of years he steps up to |
| His great performance there drew the | | | | become the greatest footballer in |
| eyes of Liverpool's scouts, but Ronaldo | | | | activity. |
| was just 16 years old and the Liverpool | | | | |