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Player profile: Cristiano Ronaldo

Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 5 February 1985

Birthplace: Funchal, Madeira

Cristiano Ronaldo has rapidly made the transition from an exciting young footballing talent into a global superstar to become one of the most renowned and coveted players in the world game.

Having grown up on the island of Madeira, Ronaldo joined Sporting’s academy as a 12-year-old. Following on from the likes of Luis Figo and Simao Sabrosa before him, Ronaldo made his debut for Sporting against Moreirense in October 2002, at the age of 17, and he announced himself with two goals in a 3-0 victory.

He continued to showcase his talent in Sporting’s run to the league championship, but it would prove to be his first and last season in Portugal as many of Europe’s biggest club had already been following the youngster’s progress.

Dazzling display

Everything changed for the 18-year-old after he produced a scintillating performance as Sporting defeated Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2003. The United players frantically encouraged manager Alex Ferguson to bring Ronaldo to Manchester, which he duly did in an 18m Euro deal just days later.

Inheriting the famous no. 7 shirt worn by George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, Ronaldo was heralded as the latest United superstar, and his sensational second-half cameo during the opening day win over Bolton Wanderers led Ferguson to claim that the Old Trafford fans had “found a new hero”.

Ronaldo wowed observers in his first season in the Premiership with his speed, trickery and enthusiasm for the game. The campaign ended with a Man of the Match performance in United’s 3-0 FA Cup final win over Millwall, and Ronaldo was voted the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Season by the club’s fans.

Non-stop progress

Having scored six goals in his debut season, Ronaldo then hit nine in his follow up campaign, including a crucial double at Highbury during United’s famous 4-2 victory over Arsenal, and his third year saw him break into double-figures after notching twelve in 2005/06.

Aside from more goals, Ronaldo became an expert at playing on either flank, exploiting his ability to use both feet and becoming one of the Premiership’s most feared players. An increasingly strong physique was also combined with a good aerial threat and deadly-long range shooting.

World Cup controversy

Things turned somewhat sour briefly during the summer of 2006 when Ronaldo was strongly criticised by the English press, who accused him of conspiring to get Wayne Rooney sent off during Portugal’s World Cup match with England.

Any thoughts that he would be hounded out of the Premiership were quickly dispelled as the following season saw his game step up yet another level. As a result, even his formerly resolute critics have accepted that Cristiano Ronaldo is now truly one of the modern game’s most exciting players, and the sky is the limit for the precociously gifted Portuguese.

International Career:

Ronaldo made his international debut shortly after his move to Manchester United, and has since become the inspirational figure of the Portuguese national side.

He was one of the stars of the 2004 European Championships, and his reputation was enhanced throughout World Cup qualification, before Ronaldo used the World’s biggest stage in Germany 2006 to again showcase his exceptional talent.

2006/07 end-of-season update

If any doubt lingered that Cristiano Ronaldo would take his place as one the modern game’s finest players they were inexorably dissipated in a quite remarkable season. The Portuguese flyer won a veritable hoard of individual awards as well as his first Premiership crown on an upward ascension that will surely see him acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo 2006/07 season review

CLUB APPEARANCES* GOALS Sporting 25 3 Manchester United** 119 33       PORTUGAL*** 44 15

* League only
** Up to 4 February 2007
*** Up to 7 February 2007