Already a star at the youth level on his home island of Madeira and earning a huge move to Sporting Lisbon at just 12, Cristiano Ronaldo left a small town for a huge city and was forced to adapt to atotally different life, miles away from his family. His spirit and natural flair took him into the Sporting first team, attracting the interest of Manchester United, who bought him in the summer of 2003. This is the story of a player who attracted praise and criticism alike from soccer fans of all stripes yet won over the United fans with his array of tricks, playing an important part in both the 2004 FA Cup Final win and the 2006 Carling Cup triumph and inspiring Portugal to a place in the final of Euro 2004. His dealings with the glare of the media as well as his controversial role in the 2006 World Cup Rooney incident are covered here, as well as his role in inspiring United to the Premiership title and his PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year (more…)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most exciting footballers of his generation. Starring at youth level on his home island of Maderia, his spirit and natural flair took him into the Sporting Lisbon first team, attracting the interest of Manchester United, who bought him in the summer of 2003. His dazzling footwork, showmanship and eye for goal not only inspired United to two Premiership titles, but he was United’s only player to score in normal time in the 2008 Champions League final, which the Reds won to put the finishing touches to a remarkable double-winning season. His incredible top-scoring season was further rewarded by becoming the FIFA World Player of the Year – and the first player based in the UK to win the award.

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Cristiano Ronaldo was born in the Portuguese island of Madeira on the 5th of February, 1985. He was born to a fairlyHuge family that consisted of his father José Dinis Aveiro, his MotherMaria Dolores, his older brother Hugo and two sisters named Elma and Katia, Cristiano Ronaldo being the youngest.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named after the late president of the United States Ronald Reagan by his father who is said to have admired the president.

Showing a love for football at an early age, Cristiano with help from his father was enrolled at Madeira’s Andorinha Football club. For those who knew him, Cristiano Ronaldo was said to have been insuperable from the soccer ball, often appearing at home to eat lunch or dinner then disappearing into the working class streets of Madeira with his soccer ball. At the Andorinha Football club he children on the island.

His talents were also noticed by the managers at the club and by the age of Ten, he made the transition to the CD Nacional football club. Cristiano Ronaldo went on to dominate games in the similar style that his is known for today, and it wasn’t long before management at CD Nacional were soon negotiating his contract with one of Portugals premier soccer organizations, Sporting Lisbon. It wasn’t long before Sporting Lisbon signed the young phenom, by offering him a career changing tryout.

At the age of twelve, Cristiano Ronaldo made the long journey Lisbon and the Sporting camp. His tryout at the club was so successful that management at Sporting Lisbon eagerly signed him soon afterward. Cristiano Ronaldo would remain at Sporting Lisbon for the next six years, learning and training with one of the world’s ideal soccer organizations.

All was not perfect in Lisbon, and Cristiano Ronaldo felt isolated, in part to the his being made fun of for his island accent by other kids in Lisbon, as well as his missing his family. He ‘cried a lot’, especially in those first weeks in Lisbon, but her persevered and proved that his skills were of a greater caliber than anyone elses, and he[ quickly | swiftly gained many admirers.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s training at Sporting Lisbon were perhaps the most important of his career, it was in Lisbon that he became a soccer wizard. Cristiano made his first debut at the age of Seventeen, with Sporting Clube de Portugal Sporting and it wasn’t long before other major clubs around Europe came knocking on Sporting Lisbon’s door with the hope of signing him. But it wasn’t until Sir Alex Ferguson from Manchester United inquired on signing him that Sporting and Cristiano finally agreed to move from Sporting.

From a kid who spent most of his time on the streets with his friends and soccer ball, to one of the world’s greatest footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo’s story reads like a book. Today Cristiano Ronaldo is well on his way to breaking records both in the UK and Continental Europe, making him one of the world’s most feared and loved footballer.