| The young Portuguese football player phenomenon | | | | volatile and tricky winger besides his utmost technical |
| Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro has become the | | | | skills and air game became the facts which engaged |
| centre fold of attention in Europe now that he plays | | | | Ferguson's quest to acquire the footballer. |
| with the Manchester United as well as around the | | | | Ronaldo is the first Portuguese player to ever play |
| world. | | | | with the club; his contract was for £12.24 |
| Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Madeira Portugal in 1985 | | | | millions. During his time with the Manchester club |
| and has been known for his natural born talent since | | | | Ronaldo obtained the FIFPro Special Young Player of |
| he was an infant. By eight years of age he was | | | | the Year Award in 2005, he also ranked among the |
| already playing with Andorinha and just a couple of | | | | FIFA's top players and he was awarded the Barclays |
| years later two top teams were interested in having | | | | Player of month (2006). More recently, there were |
| Ronaldo as part of their groups; Ronaldo then signed | | | | rumours the young Red Devil would leave the British |
| with CD Nacional and subsequently became part of | | | | and would play for the Real Madrid that was willing to |
| Sporting. | | | | play over 80 million Euros for the transfer; but those |
| His early career steps were very difficult as he | | | | shadows were hastily dissolved as he was offered a |
| struggled with his team mates and the fact he was | | | | five-year contract extension and £120,000 |
| living in a different city - Lisbon. But his outstanding | | | | weekly to remain with the club. |
| performance set the differences between him and | | | | For this year's campaign; Ronaldo has shown that he |
| the rest of the players. His first international debut | | | | is the man who gets the job done as the club is |
| was at the UEFA Under 17 Championship. | | | | leading the table of rankings of the English Premier |
| In 2003 he was then quickly spotted by Sir Alex | | | | League while he keeps scoring goals; a total of 27 in |
| Ferguson of the Manchester United at the friendly | | | | all games just this season. The Portuguese's potential |
| match at the Alvalade XXI stadium between Sporting | | | | seems to increase as he continues to play therefore |
| and Manchester. Ronaldo's abilities as a two-footer | | | | it is very likely Ronaldo will stay in England for a good |
| player allow him to play on both wings and be an | | | | amount of time. |