Cristiano Ronaldo

Football is the world's most popular and biggest sport. Aside from those colossal stadiums, grand sponsorships, big sales and luxurious lifestyles, are of course the athletes. We all have our own favorites. My favorite sport is football. My favorite footballer is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Actually, I know you may probably have the feeling of disgust, and we-don't-care stuffs. You may have drawn a grimace on your face right now, but don't worry, this is not just all about this football hunk but its also about his inspiring life that may somehow serve as a good message to the youth.

Here's what his official fanclub cristianoronaldo7.com said:

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Manchester amid a media storm. Manchester United had managed to sign the player without the Press suspecting anything. As the Stock Market was told that the player had been signed, hundreds of journalists flooded up to Manchester to get a proper look at one of Manchester United's youngest signings.

Ronaldo was born on the 5th February 1985, on the small island of Madeira, which is owned by the Portuguese. Named after Ronald Reagan, due to his father's respect for the man, few would have gambled that this child would make it to the very top of the Football tree, especially with Madeira mainly being used for farm-land. He has one brother and two sisters, and it is family whom he deems most important in his life at the moment.

It was on the dusty back-streets of this small island that Ronaldo learns his first few tricks, and it was also on this Island that he was first scouted. By the age of twelve, Ronaldo had established himself as the best player on the Island, able to use his ball skills and pace to get past full-grown defenders for Andorinha.

Having been recognized as a serious talent, all that was left was for the big Portuguese clubs to scrap it out for his signature. Though Porto and Boavista came in for him, he could only ever play for Sporting the club he supported as a boy.He progressed slowly through the youth ranks, although all those who worked with him were impressed with the talent that he had for his age, as well as his maturity.

At the tender age of 17, Ronaldo was thrown in at the deep end with his first game against Moreirense. Two goals on his first appearance not only gave him his dream debut, but also endeared him to the fans, who soon learn to chant for the ball to be passed to him. A goal against title-rivals Boavista also saw him rise to the top of the "Fan's Favorites" list.

His skills were watched closely by all of the big clubs in Europe, including Liverpool and Juventus, in the U-17 European Championships. His dazzling skills put England U-17s out, and everyone who watched felt they had seen something special. At the end of his first season at Sporting he was linked to Liverpool. Though he claimed he was extremely happy at Sporting, he was also flattered by the interest of such a big club, who used to do well in the Premier League.

Sporting finished top in the league, and Ronaldo was hailed as the future of the club, alongside Quaresma, another Portuguese Starlet. As it was, both moved away, with the money on the table to much for the Portuguese club to turn down. Best-friend Quaresma ended up at Barcelona, whilst Ronaldo came to the bright red of Manchester.

The deal saw Ronald become the most expensive teenage signing in Britain, with Manchester United paying £12.24million over two seasons, in two equal payments.Those who had not seen him play baulked at the price such a lot of money for someone unproven! Those who had seen the Man Utd vs. Sporting friendly just three days before, however, knew that this player was special. Playing for Sporting, Ronaldo had taken the game to the reds, and was the main reason that Manchester United lost 3-1. After the game, all the United players could talk about was how well Ronaldo had played, and they begged Sir Alex to buy him. Sir Alex had been following him for months, but decided that the time was right not least because other clubs were getting increasingly closer to buying him.

An so, on 12th August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo held up the famous Red shirt, with his favourite number 7 (it is hero Figo's number) for all the press to see.



A new star had been born.
His first performance for the club was against Bolton. He entered the fray with an hour gone, with United 1 0 up. A standing ovation from the fans at old Trafford did nothing to settle his nerves, but he rewarded the fans for their trust. A man-of-the-match performance followed, and Ronaldo became legend. He had a hand in two of the goals, won an unconverted penalty, and mesmerised the Bolton defence.

The next day the media proclaimed him one of the best players ever for United, comparing him with Red-Legend George Best. Much had been seen, but much is still to come. Ronaldo got better and better as the season went on, eventually leading the Reds to the FA Cup - though somewhat suprisingly, he was not awarded "Man of the Match in that game". It was a disappointing season for United, but no-one was questioning whether Ronaldo was worth the £12million Sir Alex had splashed out on him just eight months previously - everyone could see that Ronaldo was going to be an incredible player.

Ronaldo matured so much during his first year at United that he became a regular in the Portuguese national first team squad. He played a major role in their progress to the final of Euro 2004, where they opposed Greece. In a match that was played on Portuguese soil, Portugal deserved to win the game, but were beaten by a goal scored on the counter-attack by a defensive Greece team.

Ronaldo returned late to Manchester United following international action for the Portuguese Olympic side (Portugal were knocked out in the Quarters), and the Reds were already a good few points behind the leaders Chelsea. Ronaldo put in a number of classy performances, although his strike-rate never really picked up until after he had agreed on a £50 bet with Sir Alex that he would score 10 that season!

As it turned out, Ronaldo was on 9 goals going into the last game of the seaon - the FA Cup Final. United had failed to score in two games against AC Milan in Europe in March, and they had fallen badly behind Chelsea in the league table because of scrappy defeats. Would Ronny be able to get his goal? No! Despite conquerring Arsenal for the full 120 minutes (the game went into Extra-Time), the match went score-lessly into penalties, and United los

With his Summer off Ronaldo visited the tsunami-hit communities of Banda Aceh before heading off on United's Far-East Tour, and signing a new contract that will keep him at the club for many years to come. Ronaldo's third season at the club started on a sad note, with his fathers death deeply affecting his performances and attitude both on and off the pitch. To lose his father so young was hard for Cristiano, but he came through.

His season was further disrupted by a rape allegation by a media-hungry untrustworthy woman (which ended up being dropped). It may have been dropped, but it caused a major furore, and Ronaldo said at the end of the season that he did not enjoy being 'front page news'. Chelsea cruised into an 18 point lead as United stuttered, along with Ronaldo, to find form. It finally came in January 2006, after the team had been knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage - the last match against Porto saw Ronaldo flick his middle fingers up at the rival Portuguese fans and earned him a two-match ban!

United managed to cut Chelsea's lead to just four points but couldn't put the pressure on Chelsea on Good Friday, when they could only draw with Sunderland, giving any kind of title hopes up.

Ronaldo began to hit top form, and was starting to score goals again, just in time for the World Cup in Germany. Books could be written on Cristiano's World Cup (and undoubtedly will). He was the best player on the pitch at times, and won many fans internationally with his attacking play - at a tournament that was characterised by dull and negativefootball and tactics. You could always depend on Ronaldo to run at people and create chances, playing in the true spirit of the game.

Back in England, however, he won few friends as the media tried to portray him as the culprit for England's downfall when Portugal beat them in the Quarter Finals. Rooney had a wild stamp lunge at Ricardo Carvalho's "tomatoes", and Ronaldo ran over to make sure the ref had seen it. This is tantamount to grabbing the red card out of the refs back pocket and sending Rooney off himself according to The Sun, and they fully vilified Ronaldo, even demanding he be deported!


Ronaldo was through to the semis, after scoring the winning penalty against England (talk about having the last laugh), but couldn't conjure up enough to beat a dull French side who won with an exceedingly dodgy penalty early in the game and shut up shop.Ronaldo was then linked with Real Madrid, even saying himself that he wasn't sure England would be safe for him amidst all the chaos.Thankfully, Fergie refused to consider Manchester United without him, and he returned, made friends with Rooney, and is set to light the Premiership up again!

Tired of reading his full biography? Well, here's more, don't worry its much more interesting!!!

Did you know that:

1. He's one of the richest people in Portugal.

2. He doesn't know how to speak FLUENT English.

3. According to survey conducted only for Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has the most number of votes - " Best Player " , " Most Skillful Player "!!!

4. He provoked his Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney during the World Cup 2006. Portugal won 1-0 due to a penalty. He did the penalty kick after he said that Rooney had fouled him (according to him).

5. He's one of the best young players in the world.

6. He's one of the footballers whom which girls go crazy about.

7. His favorites: number-7, color-white, singer-Robbie Williams, actress-Angelina Jolie, actor-Brad Pitt, meal- cory fish with potatoes.

8. He was arrested of rape. He won the case after he bailed.

9. He's very tricksy! His favorite trick-the step-over! none has done it so extraordinarily than him! Not even Ronaldinho and Ronaldo of Brazil.

10. His father died during a premiership and had to leave suddenly, missing several matches.

11. His Manchester debut was only half an hour and yet he impressed the scouts, the Manchester supporters, his team and of course the world!!!

12. He was offered a transfer fee to Real Madrid or £12 million!!! He refused it 'cause he loved Manchester so much.

13. None of his girlfriends were infamous!

14. He has endorsements with Suzuki (although he drives a silver Porsche), Pepe Jeans, Nike, Extra Joss, and GQ.

15. He has particularly small fingernails!!! Awww!

16. He also plays tennis aside from football.

...and more importantly, he came from a poor family. His father was a farmer. His passion for football began with his ball-a coconut. He came from scratch but now, is a football superstar. You see, poverty should not be an obstacle to our dreams. Like what he did, he never let words bring him down especially that many envy him and would want him to tumble down. But NO! Cristiano's going strong and he quotes that everything he's done is for his family!!!