Cristiano Ronaldo was born in a working-class neighborhood on the Portuguese island of Madeira. His dad, a gardener, and his mother, a cook, raised their four children in a bungalow so tiny they kept the washing machine on the roof. Though some say Ronaldo was a magnetic actor in school, it was his football skills that captivated the island, forcing its most preeminent teams to stand up and take notice of the young virtuoso. After starring with local clubs Andorinha and Nacional, Ronaldo earned a three-day trial with Lisbon's Sporting -- the club he followed growing up -- and signed with them in 2001. To this day, he remains the only player in their history to be promoted through four consecutive academy levels until finally landing on the first team, all in one season. Ronaldo would go on to score a goal in his first outing with the club, and experienced top flight competition when Sporting met Inter Milan in a Champions League match.
Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Manchester United
After displaying his prodigious skills at the U-17 European Championship, Cristiano Ronaldo caught the eyes of some major European clubs, most notably Liverpool, who decided his skills needed more developing before they would sign him. Do you think Liverpool's then-manager Gerard Houllier is regretting his decision? Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson sure isn't. After Ronaldo's Sporting defeated Ferguson's Man U 3-1 in a friendly -- with Ronaldo having a hand in two goals -- Ferguson signed the burgeoning superstar to the most expensive contract ever reached for a teenager on a British club.
Not only did his £12.24 million price tag put an enormous amount of pressure on the youngster, but so did the number 7 jersey he was asked to wear, a jersey that had been worn by a handful of Man U greats including George Best, Dennis Law, Eric Cantona, and, of course, David Beckham.
Cristiano Ronaldo emerges as a force to be reckoned with
Like any rookie, Cristiano Ronaldo began his career as a substitute, coming off the bench for Manchester United in a 2003 game against Portsmouth. But his skill was too great to ignore, and by 2005 he was a full-blown starter, scoring 10 goals for the Red Devils and winning his first FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year Award.
The following season saw Ronaldo assume his birthright as a superstar, scoring his 50th goal for Man U en route to winning the FA Premiership and a truckload of awards including the PFA Players' Player of The Year, the PFA Young Player of The Year, and the PFA Fans' Player of The Year. If there was ever any doubt as to whether Ronaldo would emerge as the star so many predicted him to be, he pretty much obliterated it by becoming the most popular footballer in The UK.
Cristiano Ronaldo controversial World Cup
When Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal was set to meet Wayne Rooney's England in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup, much was made of how and if the two teammates' relationship would transcend the heated rivalry inherent in sport. But no one could have predicted what happened next. When Wayne Rooney was sent off for stomping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho, many believed it was Ronaldo who pleaded with the referee to card the English star. After replays of Ronaldo suspiciously winking to his bench emerged, the English media accused the striker of influencing the referee's decision. Although Ronaldo insisted that he had nothing to do with Rooney's dismissal, he feared a backlash in the UK was inevitable, and contemplated leaving Manchester United as a result. Maybe The Sun calling him "the most hated man in England" and printing a dartboard with his face on the bull's eye had something to do with it. Just a hunch. Nevertheless, after pleas from even Rooney himself, Ronaldo decided to stay at Old Trafford and signed a five-year extension in spring 2007.
Cristiano Ronaldo soars to new heights at Old Trafford
Though his season got off to an unceremonious start after a headbutt cost him a three-game suspension, Cristiano Ronaldo was intent on making 2008 a year to remember. The season would see Ronaldo score his first career hat-trick, captain his first game at Manchester United and fall just four goals shy of Denis Law's team record of 46 goals in a season set way back in 1964. He would also score the opening goal in Man U's win over Chelsea in The Champions League final and lead The Red Devils to their second straight league title.
Cristiano Ronaldo emerges as a force to be reckoned with
Like any rookie, Cristiano Ronaldo began his career as a substitute, coming off the bench for Manchester United in a 2003 game against Portsmouth. But his skill was too great to ignore, and by 2005 he was a full-blown starter, scoring 10 goals for the Red Devils and winning his first FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year Award.
The following season saw Ronaldo assume his birthright as a superstar, scoring his 50th goal for Man U en route to winning the FA Premiership and a truckload of awards including the PFA Players' Player of The Year, the PFA Young Player of The Year, and the PFA Fans' Player of The Year. If there was ever any doubt as to whether Ronaldo would emerge as the star so many predicted him to be, he pretty much obliterated it by becoming the most popular footballer in The UK.
Cristiano Ronaldo controversial World Cup
When Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal was set to meet Wayne Rooney's England in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup, much was made of how and if the two teammates' relationship would transcend the heated rivalry inherent in sport. But no one could have predicted what happened next. When Wayne Rooney was sent off for stomping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho, many believed it was Ronaldo who pleaded with the referee to card the English star. After replays of Ronaldo suspiciously winking to his bench emerged, the English media accused the striker of influencing the referee's decision. Although Ronaldo insisted that he had nothing to do with Rooney's dismissal, he feared a backlash in the UK was inevitable, and contemplated leaving Manchester United as a result. Maybe The Sun calling him "the most hated man in England" and printing a dartboard with his face on the bull's eye had something to do with it. Just a hunch. Nevertheless, after pleas from even Rooney himself, Ronaldo decided to stay at Old Trafford and signed a five-year extension in spring 2007.
Cristiano Ronaldo soars to new heights at Old Trafford
Though his season got off to an unceremonious start after a headbutt cost him a three-game suspension, Cristiano Ronaldo was intent on making 2008 a year to remember. The season would see Ronaldo score his first career hat-trick, captain his first game at Manchester United and fall just four goals shy of Denis Law's team record of 46 goals in a season set way back in 1964. He would also score the opening goal in Man U's win over Chelsea in The Champions League final and lead The Red Devils to their second straight league title.
Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United with a bang
For the second time in his career, rumors surfaced that Cristiano Ronaldo was headed to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of £80 million. Manchester United filed a complaint with FIFA, accusing Real Madrid of tampering, but no action was taken. Ronaldo continued his dominance in world football, despite an ankle injury and a car accident that totaled his Ferrari but left him uninjured. After finishing as the runner up in both Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year voting the year prior, Ronaldo captured both trophies in 2008, becoming the first Premier League player ever to win the latter. And though his goal total was 16 fewer then last year, Ronaldo, combined with Wayne Rooney, guided Man U to their third consecutive Premier League title and second FA Cup. Though they lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final, Ronaldo had won basically every trophy there was with Manchester United, and there was an underlying sense that this season would be his last with the club.
For the second time in his career, rumors surfaced that Cristiano Ronaldo was headed to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of £80 million. Manchester United filed a complaint with FIFA, accusing Real Madrid of tampering, but no action was taken. Ronaldo continued his dominance in world football, despite an ankle injury and a car accident that totaled his Ferrari but left him uninjured. After finishing as the runner up in both Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year voting the year prior, Ronaldo captured both trophies in 2008, becoming the first Premier League player ever to win the latter. And though his goal total was 16 fewer then last year, Ronaldo, combined with Wayne Rooney, guided Man U to their third consecutive Premier League title and second FA Cup. Though they lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final, Ronaldo had won basically every trophy there was with Manchester United, and there was an underlying sense that this season would be his last with the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester for Real Madrid
After years of speculation, Cristiano Ronaldo was finally headed to Madrid, and all it took was a record fee of £80 million to get him there. Ronaldo's unveiling at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was an event in itself, drawing 80,000 revelers to celebrate the young star's arrival as though he was the second coming. Though he managed a goal in his first four appearances in La Liga, Ronaldo's time with the Galacticos has been marred by injury, an ability to mesh with the club's other major stars, and, most importantly, an empty trophy case.
After years of speculation, Cristiano Ronaldo was finally headed to Madrid, and all it took was a record fee of £80 million to get him there. Ronaldo's unveiling at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was an event in itself, drawing 80,000 revelers to celebrate the young star's arrival as though he was the second coming. Though he managed a goal in his first four appearances in La Liga, Ronaldo's time with the Galacticos has been marred by injury, an ability to mesh with the club's other major stars, and, most importantly, an empty trophy case.
Cristiano Ronaldo courts Kim Kardashian
Cristiano Ronaldo essentially has his pick of any woman in the world, but apparently the guy has a thing for American reality TV stars. After a brief fling with Paris Hilton last year, the soccer stud has been linked to America's newest queen of nothing, the fully loaded Kim Kardashian. Though their relationship was first described as a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am type thing in Madrid, sources say it's a little more serious than that, and that the two are involved in a long-distance relationship. Luckily for Kim, Ronaldo has only been linked to over two dozen women over the past few years and is allegedly a big fan of paying for sex. Sounds like the foundation of a long lasting relationship to us.
Cristiano Ronaldo looks to make a statement in South Africa
Cristiano Ronaldo may be one of the most decorated footballers of his generation, but he still lacks the major hardware that most players at his level crave. After the controversy involving Wayne Rooney that surrounded the 2006 World Cup and his failure to execute at Euro 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to eschew his growing reputation as a big-game choke artist this summer in South Africa. It will also be a chance to show the world that he has moved beyond the theatrics that plagued him in competitions past. Portugal's captain is the engine that will run their train, and if he sputters, they can kiss their hopes of glory goodbye.
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