Mesmerizing Premier League defenses since 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo was at the heart of Manchester United's dominant attack until he became the most expensive player in the world. In the summer of 2009, Real Madrid paid United $131 million to sign him. But along with his precocious talent, Ronaldo has also brought a petulant attitude that opposing fans love to hate.
Ronaldo's 2007-2008 campaign elevated him to the top of the game as he picked up his first Champions League title, was named the final's man of the match, was named the FIFA World Player of the Year, and won the Ballon D'Or.
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Date and Place of Birth: February 5, 1985 in Funchal, Portugal
- Position: Winger
- Current Club: Real Madrid (La Liga)
- Previous Clubs: Sporting CP (2001-2003), Manchester United (2003-2009)
- International Career: 2003 to present
In 1995 at the age of 10, Ronaldo, a native of Madeira, Portugal, went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP and so impressed him that they signed him then. There, he became the first player to turn out for Sporting's at the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, B-team, and first team levels in a single season.
His progress was not lost on the top managers in the world and Liverpool's Gerard Houllier considered signing him at 16 before electing not to. Two years later, Manchester United's Alex Ferguson was not so gunshy after watching Sporting defeat his club 3-1 in 2003.
At 18, he signed with Manchester United for GBP12.24 million before the 2003-2004 season. He was assigned the No. 7 shirt that been worn by so many Manchester United greats before him, from George Best to Eric Cantona.
In his first season, he scored 10 goals while flashing the promise that Ferguson had seen in him in Portugal.
It took Ronaldo time to build up his physical presence enough to take the daily punishment of the Premier League, but by 2006, he was a force to be reckoned with. At the end of that season, he notched his 50th goal for United and was leading the charge to their first title in four years.
Ronaldo returned the next season, despite rumors that Real Madrid was preparing a massive bid for him, and signed a five-year deal that would pay him in excess of $170,000 a week. He finished the 2006-2007 season with 23 goals in 53 appearances.
During the best campaign of his young career, 2007-2008, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 49 games as Manchester United took the Premier League and Champions League. Jeered at away grounds and dogged by allegations of diving, Ronaldo thrived as United's playmaker. He finished the year as the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and was third in FIFA World Player of the Year voting.
Real shelled out $131 million for Ronaldo, making him the most expensive player in the world, just days after spending over $80 million on Brazilian midfielder Kaka.
He was first called up to the senior Portugal squad in August 2003 and made the squad for Euro 2004, where he scored two goals. But ultimately Portugal lost to Greece in the final.
Leading up to the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo had seven goals through qualifying. But in the tournament, his only goal was a penalty against Iran. Portugal was then eliminated by France in the semi-finals.
Ronaldo was again excellent during Portugal's ahead of Euro 2008, but failed to produce during the tournament. He had only one goal before Portugal was knocked out in the quarter-finals.