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