The Youth Icon : CRISTIANO RONALDO

Real Madrid's Raul: Cristiano Ronaldo Is A True Leader

2010-05-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

'El Capitan' heralds Cristiano Ronaldo as the ultimate professional.

Real Madrid veteran Raul has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo for his attitude and professionalism.

"It would be boring if everyone were equal,” Raul said, according to AS.

“He is one of the best professionals I've seen. He’s a winner, someone who does not want to miss a game. He says what he thinks, but he also has a mindset that is focused on the collective.”

Ronaldo has enjoyed a fantastic first season in La Liga since his world-record breaking €94 million move from Manchester United last summer and smashed in a hat-trick last night as Real Madrid beat Mallorca 4-1 to keep the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Raul went on to reveal how impressed he has been with the former FIFA World Player of the Year’s professionalism and heralded him as a leader.

“He is the first to arrive and the last leave training. I see him and say to myself, ‘I have to train harder'. He’s a wonderful guy, a total leader.”

Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Could Be Set To Change Clubs Again

2010-04-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

Portuguese moved to Spain from United this past summer...

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he is planning a future away from the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, who moved to Madrid from Manchester United for a world-record transfer fee of 80 million pounds last summer, insists he will not spend the rest of his career with the club.

“Football is all about cycles. I believe that you are in teams for cycles. I spent several years wanting to play in Madrid, but I don’t see myself here at 40,” The Daily Express quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

His comment surprisingly comes weeks after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that Ronaldo could make a sensational return to Old Trafford.

Talking about his decision to leave United, Ronaldo said: “Alex Ferguson understood my decision. I continue to talk to him.”

The 25-year-old also expressed disappointment over the prospect of ending the season without any silverware.

“It would be a bad year if we don’t win the league because a club like this has to always win something every year,” Ronaldo said.

“Not winning this year wouldn’t be a failure, but it would be a lost year. But I am confident we can win the league,” he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo Thinks Real Madrid Must Win La Liga

2010-04-29T02:54:00.001-07:00

Florentino Perez spent around $ 300 Million last summer to reshuffle his Real Madrid team. Cristiano Ronaldo was acquired for a world record transfer fee with Kaka’s signing also making the headlines.

But as money doesn’t buy success overnight, this season’s has proven to be a difficult one for Los Blancos who are trying to restore the pride the lost since 2008 to Barcelona’s shining star. Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey and Champions League dreams are dead.

La Liga remains their sole hope and Cristiano Ronaldo insists that Real Madrid cannot afford to end the season without a trophy. He expressed his opinion, stating:

“It would be a bad year if we don’t win La Liga because a club like this always has to win something every year.”

“It won’t be a failure if we don’t win anything this year, but it would be a lost year. Anyways, I am confident we can win the league.”

Just imagine the mockeries from anti-Real Madrid fans should Florentino Perez’s $ 300 Million squad end up with no silverware at all.

Cristiano Ronaldo guides Real Madrid to La Liga summit

2010-03-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo pointed the way to the top of the table as Real Madrid staged an enthralling three-goal fightback to beat Sevilla and overhaul Barcelona in front of an ecstatic 80,000 full house at the Bernabeu stadium.

"The Madrid side were able to play the kind of electric football they are capable of," admitted an admiring Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez afterwards. "They have incredible power and speed."

Ronaldo triggered the power surge with his intervention on the hour mark, with Real trailing to Xabi Alonso's own goal and a 25-yard free-kick from Ivica Dragutinovic.

Real's summer £80 million signing from Manchester United, full of flicks, tricks and treats all night, steered home his 20th goal of the season from 10 yards. Sergio Ramos headed Real level four minutes later and both Guti and Rafael van der Vaart clipped the Sevilla woodwork as the home side pressed for the winner.

It finally came in the 91st minute, substitute Rafael van der Vaart, scrambling home from close range. It edged Real ahead of leaders Barcelona, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Almeria earlier in the evening, on a superior goal difference of two.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, whose in-form side have struck 25 goals in their last seven league matches, said: "We were a great Real Madrid side tonight. It was a great psychological victory, it is important to be leaders."

A huge Madridista roar greeted the news that Barcelona, who had striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had dropped points at modest Almeria but Sevilla, quick and confident on the break, came close to spoiling Real's 108th anniversary party.

Former Liverpool mainspring Alonso, under pressure from Alvaro Negredo, turned the ball past Iker Casillas in the 10th minute, and the Real goalkeepeer was badly at fault when he misjudged the trajectory of the bounce from Dragutinovic's long-range free-kick eight minutes into the second half.

Real, however, have not lost at home this season, and the confidence that had brought six successive La Liga wins was prominent as Ronaldo orchestrated increasing Madrid domination.

"We played as a team and everything worked well," Alonso said. "We are moving in the right direction."

Next destination for Alonso and his Real team-mates is Europe, where they must overturn a 1-0 Champions League round of 16 first-deficit against Lyon at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

I could return to Manu

2010-02-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at a sensational return to Manchester United when he refused to rule out playing for Old Trafford again.

"Of course I miss playing for Manchester United. Not just the club but my friends are still there, too. I played there for six years and that's a long time. Whenever I have the opportunity, I watch them play," News of the World quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

"I am still interested in watching Manchester United and, you never know, maybe in the future I could return to play there. It's always possible," he added.

The 2008 World Player of the Year quit for Real Madrid in a mega 80-million-pound transfer last year.

Wayne Rooney has had to take on the challenge of replacing Ronaldo's amazing goalscoring record at Old Trafford.

"I still speak to Wayne. When I have the opportunity I speak with him, with Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra. We talk about football and everything," he said.

"Wayne has scored a lot of goals and he is the man at Manchester United at the moment. I am really, really happy for him because he has deserved it, because he has worked for it," he added.

Ronaldo, 25, signed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants in the summer.

"I will not say I am not happy here at Real Madrid. I am really happy and everyone knows this is my club but, of course, I miss Manchester United, the boss, the players, because I left family there. I want to fulfil my contract here but, in the future, only God knows," he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'My two-game ban is a disgrace'

2010-02-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

Spanish Inquisition: Was Cristiano Ronaldo’s Red Card And Two-Match Ban A Just Decision?

2010-01-28T02:32:00.000-08:00

“From Angel to Demon” read the Marca headline, that first described Cristiano Ronaldo’s two strikes (the second of which was sublime) and then his ‘codazo’ (elbow thrown) into the face of Danish left-back David Mtiliga, breaking the defender’s nose. The headline and match report implied a fit of petulance by the Portuguese international, a violent outburst that came after
one particularly physical challenge.

After all, Cristiano does have a reputation for such childish dismissals. During his time at Manchester United, he picked up four red cards: one in 2004 against Aston Villa and two against Manchester City - the first for a high lunge on forward Andy Cole during a 3-1 defeat that was mostly seen as a malicious act of frustration and the second for a clear hand ball, which was allegedly caused by a violent push in the back in jumping for the ball, causing Ronaldo to bring his hands up to defend his face.

But the most notable remains his last sending off in a Red Devil shirt when in the 2007–08 season, Cristiano was shown a red card for a head-butt on Portsmouth’s Richard Hughes, for which the Man U star was punished with a three-match ban. Much was made of that expulsion and although Ronaldo outwardly spoke that he had "learned a lot" from that experience and would no longer let opposing players "provoke" him into reacting in the future, such offences are rarely forgotten and Cristiano’s hot-headed reputation took hold.

In the first week of December during a match against Almeria, a brilliant Ronaldo won a penalty kick (although he missed the spot kick that Karim Benzema would clean up for the goal) and scored a goal himself on a Gonzalo Higuain cross. But after his strike, the ecstatic Portuguese stripped his shirt and flexed his muscles for a photo that would have looked better in one of his Armani model shoots than on the
football pitch - if only for the reason that it earned him a yellow card. Four minutes later, after a series of forceful challenges against him, Ronaldo lashed out with a vicious kick on Almeria’s Juanma Ortiz, an offence that earned him his second yellow card and his first sending off in a Madrid shirt (no pun intended).

The Santiago Bernabeu is not a place known for its ability to forgive. It demands its players to comport themselves with class and humility a la Zidane, Raul, and Kaka. But every player is entitled to one stupid mistake and with Ronaldo’s apology in the press immediately after his rush of blood to the head, the outburst was forgotten - or in light of CR9’s immense talent - swept under the rug.

The initial readings of the Spanish press reports seemed to indicate that Sunday’s ‘codazo’ was a relapse of the same impulsive behaviour, but upon watching the match myself, Cristiano’s flailing arm looked like more of an attempt to fend off Mtiliga (who was very clearly pulling CR9 back) than a malice-driven strike at
the face. The contact looked incidental instead of intentional; in other words, it looked as if Ronaldo was trying to play football.

A few years ago, Ronaldo had a reputation as a diver. A fast player with a slight build, the Portuguese winger would shy away from contact and very often try to simulate for the referee. Sometimes such Oscar-winning performances would win him penalties and other times yellow cards, but in both instances, it earned him a bad reputation among both fans and the zebras [referees].

But after much coaching by Sir Alex Ferguson and a good deal of work in the gym, a physically and mentally stronger Ronaldo began to ride challenges, fight through fouls, and fend off defenders, relying instead upon himself rather than the referee’s judgment. During some matches this season, Ronaldo can even be seen giving disapproving looks toward to the referee for calling a foul rather than allowing the
advantage to be played for Madrid to continue their often-lethal counterattacks.

Upon being held back by a defender, the Ronaldo of a few years ago would have stopped playing, thrown his limbs up into the air like a fish, and flopped onto the pitch with an incredulous shout and pleading look in the direction of the referee. But against Malaga, CR9 fought through the challenge in an attempt to play football and was penalised with a red card when his arm struck Mtiliga in the face. Ronaldo, himself, spoke afterward about the incident saying that if Mtiliga had been taller, his flailing arm would have connected with the defender’s chest. If anything, the Dane should have been punished with a yellow.

It seems that Cristiano has a point. Interestingly enough, an eerily similar play occurred the week before in Barcelona’s La Liga match against Sevilla, a match the Blaugrana won 4-0. The incident in question occurred when Sevilla defender Marc Valiente attempted to hold up Barca star Lionel Messi by grabbing the Argentine by the waist, shirt, and arm in a manner similar (albeit more extreme) to Mtiliga's pullback of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Instead of going down and simulating the foul, Messi, as he always strives to do, attempted to fight and free himself from the taller defender's grasp by pushing him off with his right arm, his elbow lashing backward at Valiente's chest and face. In Messi's case, no foul was called for the Argentine's wild flailing and Valiente
was booked for his mugging. All the while, the only difference between the two incidents (made clear by a video released by sports daily AS that juxtaposes the two events) appears to be the fact that Ronaldo is half a foot (0.17 metres) taller than Messi - or that Mtiliga is nearly half a foot (0.12 metres) shorter than Valiente
(it's all relative), and that Ronaldo’s arm inadvertently came into contact with Mtiliga’s face while Messi's arm did not make contact.

Ron seeing red for the first time in white

Since CR9’s sending off and subsequent two-match ban by the Spanish Competition Committee (Madrid will reportedly appeal the punishment with the hope of reducing it to one match), which will force Los Blancos’ best player to miss next weekend’s match against Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor, where they have not won in 19 seasons, murmurs of conspiracy theories are abound in the Spanish capital. Instigated by the video that compares the similar plays of Messi and Ronaldo and the very dissimilar outcomes, Madridistas are beginning to elevate their whispers of ‘Villarato’ to louder volumes.

'Villarato' is not a real Spanish word, but a term coined by Spaniards to describe the close relationship between Barca president Joan Laporta and Spanish Federation president José María Villar (also the vice-president of FIFA and the third vice-president of UEFA), which implicitly means the Liga directors hold some favouritism toward Barca. Talk of such a conspiracy was playfully entertained last season as Barca marched on to win the Triplete on the back of some admittedly questionable calls by referees. But this season, the outrage and accusations have grown further as calls like the erroneous penalty called against Espanyol in the Barcelona derbi or Ronaldo’s recent red-card in light of Messi’s pardon show some suspect decisions.

Entertaining such theories is a very tall accusation and, to be quite blunt, it is pure rubbish. Referees are human and they do make mistakes. As Ronaldo put it, it was simply bad luck that his flailing arm happened to connect with Mtiliga’s nose and, despite the fracture, Mtiliga admitted that Ronaldo did not intend to cause harm. It seems, instead, that the Portuguese's red card and subsequent two-match ban came as a result of his action rather than the intent behind it. Should Messi have broken Valiente’s nose or caused a similar injury, perhaps he would have been sent off as well and we would not be having this debate.

But this begs the question as to where to draw the line when it comes to punishing a player for the results of his actions rather than intent behind them. For those who saw Deportivo La Coruna left-back Filipe Luis’ horrific ankle injury in scoring a goal against Athletic Bilbao (if you haven’t, don’t Youtube it; it truly is sickening) one has to wonder: if the ball had not nestled into the back of the net, would Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz have been sent off, banned for a number of matches, and a penalty awarded? Despite the fact that he did not intend to cause Luis any harm, does the fact that he shattered the talented Brazilian’s ankle,
ended his season and dreams of playing in the World Cup with Dunga’s Brazilian national team, and put his career in jeopardy merit a punishment?

The simple answer is no, simply because that would be absurd. Football is a sport in which athletes run, jump, kick, and slide and these activities are inherently dangerous. One tries to minimise injury, but inevitably accidents do happen and players will get hurt. It is a simple fact of the game and a known risk. A referee’s job is make sure no player attempts to purposefully injure an opponent or puts himself in a position that could significantly compromise a player, but sometimes that line can become a bit hazy and that is where referees must use their own judgement.

However, in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo’s red-card and two-match ban, I would be hard-pressed to admit that the punishment is warranted. A yellow card? Sure. A red card? Doubtful. A two-match ban? No. As for Cristiano, the way the incentives seem to have aligned through this entire debacle point to one message: next time a player tries to hold you up, don’t try to fight through the foul and play the ball. Dive. Sometimes the sport benefits if one just lets the players play.

Do you think Cristiano’s red-card was justified? Is a two-match ban excessive, just right, or not enough?

Real Madrid Will Miss Cristiano Ronaldo On Saturday

2010-01-28T02:29:00.000-08:00

Deportivo La Coruna Coach Lotina Says Real Madrid Will Miss Cristiano Ronaldo On Saturday
The coach of the Galician outfit says the bigger teams have better squads....

Deportivo La Coruna coach Miguel Angel Lotina believes that Real Madrid will miss Cristiano Ronaldo when

they visit the Riazor on Saturday night.

Ronaldo is suspended for the game after being shown a straight red card after committing a foul trying to

evade the attention of Patrick Mtiliga in the 2-0 win over Malaga at the Bernabeu last Sunday.

The Portuguese star scored one of Real's three goals in a five goal thriller at the Bernabeu when the two

sides last met on the opening day of the season and Lotina remarked that Ronaldo's absence will have a

"significant" effect.

"He [Ronaldo} is among the three best players in the world and his absence would be a significant loss for

any team," he is quoted as saying by AS.

Lotina also stated that his team will try hard to battle with the best team's in La Liga but says other squads

are better placed to do well.

"Depor will fight to be amongst the best, there are other squads more tailored to being up at the top," he

declared.

C.Ronaldo wonderful goal vs.Porto

2009-12-22T07:46:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Fifa's goal of the year for Man Utd screamer

2009-12-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the Puskas Goal of the Year trophy at Fifa's awards gala in Zurich on Monday night for the 40-yard strike that saw Manchester United eliminate Porto from last season's Champions League.

The 24 year-old won the inaugural award for the most outstanding goal of the 2008/09 season, scored in the return leg of the quarter-final in April. His goal won 17.68 per cent of the vote in a Fifa.com poll.

Ronaldo gave his former club a 1-0 lead with a 40 yard strike to send Sir Alex Ferguson's side to the next round.

"I am very proud of this award, it's a great honour for me," said Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid in a world record £80 million summer transfer.

"It was incredible, a fantastic goal. If you asked me how to score a goal like that I wouldn’t be able to tell you.

"It’s just hitting it hard and seeing the net billow, that’s all."

The award is named after the football great Ferenc Puskas, captain of the legendary Hungarian team of the 1950s.

2010 FIFA World Cup draw

2009-12-09T02:23:00.002-08:00

Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay,France
Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group GBrazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Real Madrid Coach Manuel Pellegrini Pleased With Solid Performance Against Marseille

2009-12-09T02:23:00.001-08:00

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini thought his team produced a solid performance in defeating Marseille 3-1 at the Stade Velodrome.

Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, including a stunning first half free-kick, and one from central defender Raul Albiol ensured that Los Merengues finished top of UEFA Champions League Group C.

"We could have finished first [in the group] with a draw, but we won, we scored three goals and produced a solid performance. There is little difference between how we play at the Bernabeu and how we do away. We never surrender the initiative to the opposition," Pellegrini said afterwards, according to AS.

The Chilean also remarked that Madrid have achieved their objective after a busy couple of months and now can field a more consistent first eleven with less games coming up in the coming months.

"We knew in October and November we would play six or seven games each month. In December, however, there are fewer games and it is easier to repeat the lineup," he remarked.

"We still have to improve and we will do so in January and February, because our elimination from the Copa del Rey has left us many weeks off."

Marseille 1-3 Real Madrid: Merengues Finish First, Knock Hosts Out

2009-12-09T02:21:00.001-08:00

Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one from Raul Albiol helped Real Madrid secure top spot in Group C, as Marseille bowed out of the Champions League.

Marseille included Stephane Mbia in the squad, but he only made the bench, as did ex-Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes. Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, handed Rafael van der Vaart another start, leaving Raul and Karim Benzema on the bench.

The hosts needed a win to stand any chance of progressing, so the last thing they wanted was to concede early. Unfortunately for them, on five minutes, Ronaldo stood over a free-kick from 30 yards out, and promptly dispatched a vicious, unstoppable shot, that flew into the right hand corner, leaving Steve Mandanda with no chance, despite him getting his fingertips to it.

It was a cruel blow for Marseille, who needed a quick response to stand any chance. That is exactly what they got on 11 minutes, when Lucho Gonzalez slotted in the rebound, after Albiol had cleared Brandao's header off the line, following a cross from Taye Taiwo.

Marseille were buoyed by the equaliser, and they were looking dangerous, as Brandao had a goal correctly ruled out for offside. They were leaving some gaps at the back, but without much possession, Madrid were playing on the counter. Ronaldo almost scored his second just before the half-hour, but his header hit the post. Gonzalo Higuain pounced on the rebound, only to see Mandanda flap his effort away, before Sergio Ramos' follow-up was deflected over. It was a lucky escape for the hosts, who received further good news with Zurich scoring against Milan.

Both sides had good chances in the final five minutes of the half, with Albiol putting a perfect tackle in on Brandao when he was through on goal, before Ronaldo played a brilliant back-heel for Marcelo, who broke past two defenders before shanking his shot. That proved to be the final action of the first half, with all to play for in the second period.

Marseille had the first chance of the second half, when Brandao was through on goal again having been released by Mamadou Niang, but Iker Casillas came out quickly to smother the ball. Real Madrid then had their say, with Marcelo once again blazing over, this time after Mandanda had parried Van der Vaart's effort from range.

The Brazilian was getting forward with intent, and was thwarted by the keeper yet again on the hour mark, having been set up by Higuain. A goal looked imminent, and it was duly provided on the hour mark, when Gabriel Heinze could only half-clear Van der Vaart's corner, allowing Albiol to smash a half-volley in to the left corner. It as a double blow for Marseille, as news of an equaliser for Milan filtered through almost simultaneously.

Marseille almost responded immediately once more, but Brandao's header from Benoit Cheyrou's corner was deflected on to the roof of the net. From the resulting corner, a virtual instant replay of the previous move occurred, except with Souleymane Diawara's header being deflected by Ramos.

The hosts had clearly not given up, and they were rewarded for their persistence on 66 minutes, when Casillas brought Niang down in the box, after Lucho had played him through over the defence. However, the celebrations around the Velodrome were too soon, as Lucho stepped up to take the penalty, only to smash it against the bar.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, as Albiol came close once more, dragging his shot wide from another corner. It was no surprise when Madrid got their third on 80 minutes, Ronaldo slotting into an empty net after Mandanda made a hash of a long ball from Lassana Diarra.

The match was now over as a contest, and Benzema should have added a fourth, only to pull his shot from the edge of the box wide, after a neat exchange of passes with Ronaldo.

Zinedine Zidane Tips Real Madrid For Champions League Glory; Praises 'Phenomenal' Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-12-09T02:18:00.000-08:00

CR9 better than me
Having witnessed Real Madrid's comprehensive win over Marseille from the stands, Zinedine Zidane has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo has even more tricks than himself. It was a clinical display, and Zizou believes his former side can lift the trophy at the Bernabeu in May...
Former Real Madrid talisman Zinedine Zidane has declared that Los Merengues can go all the way in this seasons UEFA Champions League, and also remarked that current superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of better things in the game than him.

Zidane was speaking after Madrid beat Marseille 3-1 at Stade Velodrome to book their place in the knockout stages of Europe's premier competition with Portuguese winger Ronaldo scoring the opener from an exquisite free-kick before adding the final goal in the latter stages of the game to ensure they topped Group C.

"Lately I am enjoying watching them [Madrid]. The players are impressive. They are playing more like a team now and that is important because there is still three or four months to improve," he said afterwards, according to AS.

"Cristiano is not just good, he is phenomenal, he does better things than I used to do."

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-12-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Blow for Real Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo injury shows no improvement

2009-12-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo may have to have another operation on his ankle

Cristiano Ronaldo may face a further three months out if he is forced to have another operation on his injured ankle. Real Madrid have announced that the Portuguese winger has not showed enough improvement to join the first team squad in training and that he has travelled to Amsterdam to see the Dutch ankle specialist Niek van Dijk.

The news comes as a big blow for the player, his club and his country. Real Madrid have struggled without Ronaldo and play Barcelona at the end of the month while Portugal face World Cup qualifying play-off games against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 14 and 18 November.

It is the same ankle that needed an operation in the summer of 2008, when Ronaldo was still at Manchester United. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have won every game the Portuguese winger has played in but have lost against lowly Alcorcón in the Cup and Milan at home in the Champions League in his absence. "The injury is showing no sign of improving," Real Madrid said in a statement.

Real, whose coach Manuel Pellegrini, is under huge pressure after recent results, trail Barcelona by one point at the top of La Liga, face city rivals Atlético Madrid this weekend. Ronaldo injured his ankle in the Champions League game against Marseille on 30 September with the defender Souleymane Diawara later admitting he was "tormented" by the incident.

Presentación Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid HQ 06-7-09

2009-12-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Man Utd £80m

2009-12-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Wallpaper,

2009-11-28T10:02:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Wallpaper

2009-11-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Press Conference

2009-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

"Those who are ambitious must always believe they are the favourites to win"

Cristiano Ronaldo talked to the media two days before his first match against

Barcelona as a Real Madrid player.

Do you feel ready to be a starter at Camp Nou?
I think it's normal for me not to be in optimum form right now. I just want to help the

team.

What have you been told of last season's Clasico at the Bernabeu?
I don't like to talk about the past. I don't care what happened because I wasn't there.

I'm concerned about the present. I hope we can defeat Barcelona.

Pellegrini's opening speech today was longer than usual.
That's because he said everything outdoors today. He usually talks to us inside too.

It has nothing to do with the fact that we're about to face Barcelona.

Does the leadership make you favourites to win the match?
I always think there are no favourites. Those who are ambitious must always believe

they are the favourites to win. We have great respect for our opponent, but we

shouldn't be afraid of them. They are a great team, but I don't believe either of us is

the favourite to win.

Do you think the team depends on you?
We are leaders in the two most important competitions, so I don't think the team

depends on me at all. We are doing well and scoring goals. I'd like to help.

Does the fact that the crowd will be against you motivate you even more?
I'm used to that. It was the case for me at every English stadium after Portugal

eliminated England from the 2006 World Cup, but I nevertheless ended up

becoming the best player in the Premiership. I'm just concerened about playing well

on Sunday and about helping the team. I think we can win with or without me.

Are you anxious to play a game like the Clasico?
I'm always anxious; it has nothing to do with the fact that we'll play against

Barcelona. I am ambitious. Every player wants to take part in a Clasico.

What do Real Madrid need to do to win?
We'll have to play well and score more goals than Barcelona.

What do you regard as playing well?
We shouldn't be scared of playing against Barcelona. We'll have to play as we

always do. Barcelona won't attack us in the same way they attack their other

opponents and they will also defend themselves more. I want us to play well, to

keep possession and to have chances on goal.

Would you like Messi to play?
Great footballers should always play if they can. I don't know if he's going to play,

but Barcelona didn't use Messi and Ibrahimovic the other day and they nevertheless

performed very well. The team has a good system in which every footballer plays

well. Messi has unusual quality, but every man on that squad is very good. It will be

a difficult match with or without Messi.

What do you think of your personal fight to be the best player in the world?
I'm not worried about that. I just want to win.

Do you enjoy Real Madrid's style?
I do. I'm relaxed after we win and I sleep very well. The important thing is to win and

it's even better when we do so by playing well.

Why does everyone say Barcelona play better?
Because they do, but can't be doing that badly when you look at the run we are

having.
How many goals would you like to score on Sunday?
Ten, twenty... I don't know if it will be possible though.

Is the match similar to a Manchester United-Liverpool clash?
Classic encounters are similar in every country because fans love them. They are

always special. People have the same passion for them.

How will you prepare for the match?
I always do the same regardless of the opponent. It will be a special encounter

because we'll have the chance of distancing ourselves further from them on the

table. It will be difficult, but we'll try to win.

Your team went through some dire straits while you were injured...
You can't win anything without experiencing difficulties. You have to work hard in

life in order to achieve something and that is just what we are doing. Our style isn't

brilliant, but we are earning the results we want. We are leaders in La Liga and in

the Champions League. We will improve. We must be humble and realise we can

always do better.

Do you feel like you've got unfinished business with Barcelona for losing against

them in the Champions League final?
I've only got unfinished business regarding bills from the water and electric

companies... Barcelona play well, but what happened then is now in the past. I'm at

a new club now and we have a winning mentality.

Doesn't a winner like yourself ever think about the past?
It happened a long time ago. I have to think about the present and the future. The

past is useful to learrn from, but we must always look ahead. We will try to do our

best and win. I have no unfinished business with Barcelona.

Is the squad determined to show the world you can play better than Barcelona?
This isn't a Champions League final. It is a regular game worth three points against

a good opponent. What if we win on Sunday and lose our next clash? Victory would

be pointless then. We have to be regular. It will be hard, I know, and we will face a

strong opponent too.

Do you connect well with Benzema?
Very well, but I don't know if I'm going to play yet. I connect well with everyone; Raul,

Benzema, Higuain...

The crowd slightly whistled and booed at the team on Wednesday...
It had nothing to do with our performance. We were winning. I'm sure we'll improve.

Whom would you rather sign from Barcelona, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi...
None, but they are all very good.

Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Not 100 Per Cent Fit For Barcelona Tie

2009-11-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not 100 per cent fit and will play against

Barcelona in El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday still suffering pain in the right

ankle that kept him out of action for eight weeks, according to Sport.

It is suggested that although Ronaldo's return to action in the UEFA Champions

League win over Zurich was a successful one the reality is somewhat different. The

player spent a long time warming up on the sideline and in the 24 minutes he did

play he rarely featured as an attacking force anything like what he was before the

injury.

Ronaldo admitted to being tired after the game and coach Manuel Pellegrini is

understood to be aware that the 24-year-old is still experiencing discomfort in the

ankle so if Ronaldo does play it is likely he will be less than his best, which will suit

Barca greatly.

If Pellegrini were to take the decision not to play Ronaldo in this game the pressure

on him is set to intensify. Demands are such at Real Madrid that their prize asset

must be included in the starting lineup for El Clasico and Los Merengues could be

playing with fire as any relapse for Ronaldo could see the winger on the sidelines

once again or possibly even requiring surgery.

Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid

2009-11-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo was born and raised in a working class neighborhood on the

Portuguese island of Madeira. He officially began playing football in 2003 for Clube

Futebol Andorinha de Santo Antonio. By the age of ten, the islands more prominent

teams began expressing interest in the phenom. Ronaldo joined Nacional da Ilha

da Madeira, where he continued his meteoric rise and one year later was on the

move to Lisbon, where he signed for Sporting in 2001. He is still the only player in

club history to be promoted by four academy teams until debuting with the first team

in one season. Ronaldo scored a brace in his first match against Deportivo

Moreirense and went on to win the Superliga that same year as a mainstay One

season later he made his European debut in a Champions League qualifier against

Inter.

The turning point of his career was a brilliant performance during a friendly against

Manchester United in 2001. Ferguson later admitted that his players couldn’t stop

talking about Ronaldo. Even on the flight back to England, players of the likes of

Roy Keane and Van Nistelrooy insisted that the manager sign Cristiano. The official

announcement was made one week later after ManU paid £12.24 million for his

services; a record transfer fee for an adolescent.

Ronaldo proved his quality during his first year in England in the 2004 FA Cup final;

he scored the first of his team’s three goals, which eventually gave them the trophy.

He became one of the best young players in the world during his second campaign

in England and earned FIFPro’s Special Young Player of the Year award. He

entered Manchester United history on 29 October 2005 by scoring the team’s

1,000nd goal in the Premier League. Ronaldo netted 17 strikes the following year,

becoming the second top-scorer in the Premiership. He also made the

championship’s 2006/07 Team of the Year alongside six other ManU players.

Cristiano Ronaldo perfected his quality in the following years and also managed to

stand out for his intelligence and great physique. He became the top-scoring right

winger in Manchester United’s history in March 2008, breaking legendary George

Best’s 32-goal record of the 1967/68 campaign. This was the first of a series of

achievements, which also included winning the Community Shield, the Premiership

title and the Champions League trophy. On a personal level, he won the Ballon

d’Or, the Golden Boot, the FIFA World Player award, the FIFPro award, the UEFA

Club Forward of the Year distinction, and became the top-scorer of the Champions

League.

At just 24, Ronaldo is the second captain on the Portuguese national team behind

Nuno Gomes. He made his international debut on 20 August 2003 against

Kazakhstan and represented his country in the 2004 Olympic Games of Athens.

Scolrai didn’t count on him much at the start of the Euro 2004, despite the insistence

of fans and journalists, but he eventually became a prominent player on the team,

which lost the final 1-0 against Greece. Ronaldo played at a very high level in the

2006 Germany World Cup, but the team lost against France in the semis and

against Germany in the fight for third place. Portugal lost against Germany again in

the quarterfinals of the Euro 2008.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2008-09

2009-05-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ronny proud on 'special day'
Cristiano Ronaldo beamed with pride as he reflected on clinching the third Premier League title of his United career.

The Portuguese winger, United's top scorer for a third successive season, revelled in the post-match celebrations after the Reds' draw with Arsenal had given the reigning champions an unassailable lead at the head of the table.

"It's unbelievable, it's a special day," Ronaldo told MUTV. "We've won the league again and now we get to celebrate with our families. I'm enjoying it a lot. It's a fantastic achievement. It's not easy to win three times, the lads worked for that and it's a special, special moment. We have to enjoy the moment."

The Reds' triumph secured an 18th league title, equalling the longstanding record of Liverpool, but Ronaldo admits United need only concentrate on winning more silverware.

"We don't need to care about other teams," he said. "It's always good to be on the top, and we are in a good moment. We've won a few things and this club needs to carry on. It doesn't matter which players are here or which coach is here, the mentality of this club is always to win. I'm looking forward, and proud to be in the history of this team."

With one half of last season's Double now safely retained, United's attentions will now switch to overcoming Barcelona in the Champions League final. Should the Reds reign in Rome, Ronaldo believes this campaign can be held in the fondest regard, admitting: "If we win that then it's an unbelievable year."

Ronaldo helps ManU Cross One More Hurdle To Be The English Champions

2009-05-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Man United 2
Ronaldo (18), Tevez (45)
Man City 0

United now need just four points from three games to win a third successive league title after the Reds brushed aside Mark Hughes’ men in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
First-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez sealed the points on a day when United’s back four were rarely troubled. The Blues were no match for a United side determined to regain top spot after Liverpool’s win at West Ham on Saturday had sent the Scousers temporarily to the summit.

Now, however, three points clear and with a game in hand, the Reds are favourites to secure an 11th Premier League trophy and could do so at Old Trafford next Saturday should Sir Alex's men beat Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night.

For Sunday's derby battle, the United boss made five changes to the side that beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday. Jonny Evans and Rafael came into the back four for Rio Ferdinand and John O’Shea, while Ryan Giggs slotted into the centre of midfield. Up front, Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov started together for the 11th time in the league this season.

It was Ji-sung Park who had the first chance of the game. The South Korean, who’s scored in United’s last two matches, collected Ronaldo’s knock-down inside the box on three minutes but dragged his shot wide of Shay Given’s right-hand post.

The Reds enjoyed a lot of early possession and both Tevez and Ronaldo tested Given in the opening 10 minutes. City looked dangerous on occasion too, Robinho proving a handful for young Rafael at right back.

But it was United who went in
front and it was that man Ronaldo with yet another free-kick. Against Arsenal in midweek he’d scored from 41 yards; this time it was a mere 28. Slightly left of centre, Ronaldo struck the ball sweetly and it flew goalwards, nicking Nigel de Jong on the end of the wall before bouncing once and nestling in the back of Given’s net.

Carlos Tevez almost added a second just after the half-hour with a brilliant effort that cannoned off the frame of the goal from the corner of the penalty area. The Argentinean, subject to intense pre-match speculation surrounding his future at Old Trafford, worked hard all afternoon and was involved in many of the Reds’ best attacking forays.

Indeed, it was Tevez who provided the final flourish to round off a superb move on the stroke of half-time and send the Reds 2-0 up. Darren Fletcher pumped a long ball forward, which Dimitar Berbatov cushioned with the delicacy of a father cradling his newborn. The Bulgarian then rolled the ball across the edge of the box to Tevez, who took two touches before rifling into the net off the inside of Given’s left-hand post.

The second goal was thoroughly deserved after a half in which United had dominated possession and continually found space in the final third. At the back, too, the Reds had looked solid with Nemanja Vidic marshalling the defence in Rio Ferdinand’s absence. One full-bloodied yet perfectly-timed sliding challenge exemplified why the Serbian centre-back is hotly tipped to win the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award next weekend.

Neither manager made substitutions at half-time – Sir Alex certainly
had no reason to – although City emerged from the break determined to pull a goal back. Robinho was presented with a golden chance to do just that on 50 minutes, but fired over from 10 yards. At the other end, Rafael’s cross-come-shot had Given scrambling momentarily as the ball looped onto the roof of the net.

With an hour gone, Sir Alex withdrew Ji-sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo, who despite scoring the Reds’ opener had struggled to assert himself on the game. Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney entered the fray, with Rooney taking Park’s place on the right and Giggs shifting onto the opposite wing to make way for Scholes in the centre. There he joined Darren Fletcher, who was superb all day and won countless tackles and loose balls.

City’s search for a goal continued but substitute Martin Petrov’s late strike from distance, which drew a stunning finger-tip save from Edwin van der Sar, was as close as the visitors came. It wasn't a classic Manchester derby, nor a classic performance from the Reds, but the three points Sir Alex's side gained from the match take United to within touching distance of yet more silverware.

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-05-07T10:55:00.001-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-05-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Team mates,

2009-05-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-05-07T10:44:00.001-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-05-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-05-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Arsenal shattered in Ronaldo's storm

2009-05-07T10:32:00.001-07:00

Arsenal 1 United 3 (aggregate 1-4)
Arsenal 1
Van Persie (75)
Man United 3
Park (7), Ronaldo (60, 10) Bring on Barça or the Blues. United will be in Rome on 27 May to defend the Champions League trophy.

The Champions League holders turned in a flawless away performance to completely dismantle Arsene Wenger's Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, killing the tie through early goals from Ji-sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo, before the Portuguese added gloss to the scoreline with a breakaway third.

The only sour note for United came through the late dismissal of Darren Fletcher. The Scot will miss the final after being incorrectly punished for bringing down Cesc Fabregas inside the United area, allowing Robin van Persie to hammer home a late penalty.

That made for a cruel end to the evening for Fletcher who, like each and every one of his colleagues, had been magnificent in overcoming the Gunners. It was in stark contrast to the manner in which the evening began, as United put the tie to bed inside 11 minutes.

Arsenal supporters had been encouraged to whip up a frenzied atmosphere to try and help their side overcome a single goal deficit brought about by John O'Shea's first leg strike at Old Trafford, but the Emirates' noise levels dipped irretrievably after seven minutes.

United's mantra had been obvious from the first whistle: counter attack. On the Reds' second such foray, Anderson slipped in Ronaldo, who had been detailed with the lone striker's role by virtue of his searing pace, and the Portuguese fizzed a low ball across the area. Teenage full-back Kieran Gibbs slipped at the crucial moment, allowing Park to pinch the ball and slip a shot over Manuel Almunia and into the goal.

The pocket of some 3,500 United fans behind the opposite goal burst into a frenzied celebration, one
which was still ongoing when Ronaldo put the tie out of sight just four minutes later. Having won a free-kick 40 yards from goal, he sent a trademark rocket towards Almunia's left-hand corner, and the Spaniard was unable to read the ball's flight. Game over, tie over, start packing the bags for Rome.

Arsenal, understandably, were rocked. The half-hour mark had arrived before the hosts even tested Edwin van der Sar, and it was a tame header from Fabregas which called the Dutchman into action. Either side of the Spaniard's effort, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo drew impressive saves from Almunia.

With the Reds' backline in imperious, unbreachable mood, it was left to the forwards to surge forward and exploit the inevitable gaps in Arsenal's foraging formation. Ronaldo had already seen one breakaway end with an Almunia save before he struck a superb third goal.

Nemanja Vidic headed an Arsenal corner as far as the Portuguese, who impishly backheeled a pass to Park before high-tailing it towards the Gunners' area. He reached his destination at the same time as Rooney's perfectly-weighted pass, and drilled a fine shot high into Almunia's goal. Cue delirium among the United supporters, and a mass exodus by their Arsenal counterparts.

With Patrice Evra and Rooney at risk of missing the final with another booking, they were quickly hooked for Rafael and Dimitar Berbatov, while Ryan Giggs replaced Anderson after another impressive outing from the young Brazilian.

There was more of a hint of irony, then, when Fletcher raced back to superbly touch the ball away from Fabregas deep inside the United area, only for referee Roberto Rosetti to award a penalty and brandish the red card at the heartbroken Scot.
Van Persie drilled home the resultant kick as Fletcher trudged down the tunnel, joining Roy Keane and Paul Scholes on the list of United players unfortunate enough to have been ruled out of European football's greatest showpiece by suspension.

While dismay was ultimately the order of the day for Fletch, the overall mood among the United camp must be one of elation after one of the most emphatic European away displays in memory. The Reds are off to Rome, where Barcelona or Chelsea - both vanquished last season - will await. Forza United!

Cristiano Ronaldo says he'll stay at Manchester United

2009-05-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

Red Devil quashes talk of move to Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo has finally killed off claims that he is heading to Real Madrid this summer.

In his strongest public statement about his future at Manchester United, Ronaldo said: “I’m no longer thinking of Madrid. That dream is dead.

"The only thing I dream about now is Manchester United and winning the Champions League again in Rome.”

The Portuguese winger has enraged United fans by courting interest from the Spanish giants.

Does Anyone Still Believe That Cristiano Ronaldo Is A Big Game Flop ?

2009-05-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

One thing's for sure: Cristiano Ronaldo will never, never, never be respected. With his arrogance, quick rise to stardom, diving and flamboyant lifestyle, the Portuguese international can never come anywhere near close to being respected, either as a footballer or as a person. While half the world loves him, the other half hates him; while half the world adores him for his footballing skills, the other half vilifies him for the same.

There’s another thing about Cristiano Ronaldo: he will always, always, always be a world class footballer. With his flicks and tricks, the measured crosses, the tenacious free-kicks, the exquisite passes, the goals and the flamboyance to do the unexpected, Ronaldo will always be a world class footballer.

And never a big game flop.

Ronaldo, like sport in general and football in particular, divides people as well as unites them. Last season- season mind you, not year- he was easily the world's best player and it is hardly a secret that without him Manchester United would have won neither the Premier League nor the UEFA Champions League. Yet there were doubts on his big match ability as his detractors continuously pointed out that the now 24-year-old was a consistent choker when it came to crunch matches.

This season Ronaldo didn't start in his best of colours. Injuries and less than impressive performances made him look like a flash in the pan. Manchester United didn’t really look that impressive in the first few months of the season, Liverpool did. And with FC Barcelona playing orgasmic football and Lionel Messi running all defences riot tying the ball to his feet, suddenly the myth that Ronaldo is overrated seemed true.

But if there's anything that makes Manchester United a special club, then it is their ability to surface even under the most adverse of conditions. They are in England at least the comeback kings and Cristiano Ronaldo has symbolized that perfectly. Injures not withstanding, he is the Premier League’s leading goalscorer again this season with 17 goals in 28 starts and all this without being an out-and-out striker.

But as his critics would say, being the best on the pitch against the Hulls and the Stokes is one thing, being the best on the pitch against the Inter Milans and the Arsenals is quite another. Ronaldo, though, showed that they are the same for him as he made Inter Milan and Arsenal and even FC Porto to some extent no better than Hull or Stoke or whatever.

From the last 16 stage onwards, Cristiano Ronaldo has learnt how to express himself. Against Inter Milan at Old Trafford he was marvelous, scored a goal and his performance and presence on the pitch dwarfed many of the Inter players. Against Porto, he wasn’t quite the best in the first leg at Old Trafford and wasn’t at his best in the second leg either, but it was that audacious 40-yard screamer out of the blue and into the back of the Porto net that settled the match and the tie.

Fluke? Yes, that goal may have been a fluke, rather it was a fluke in the same way that all goals scored are flukes as the striker of the ball can never be sure of the ball going into the goal even from three yards out (!). But that goal was one more example of audacious sorcery from a man who is perhaps the most flamboyant footballer in the world, on the pitch that is.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not the best player in the world at the moment, Lionel Messi is; Manchester United have not played the best football in Europe, Barcelona have. But then, there's something about Ronaldo as well as about Man United that makes you believe. Ronaldo has more than a touch of arrogance but his arrogance is something that he takes pride in. When he scored against Porto, he didn’t celebrate, perhaps as a mark of respect for playing in his native nation, but even then you could sense that he knew what he had done, that he knew that the world was at his feet at the moment.

Over the two legs against Arsenal in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the Manchester United defence might have been the stand-out performers but the best individual over the two legs was a certain Portuguese who likes the gel and the tan a little too much. He had, shall we say, a decent match in the first leg but if his out-of-the-blue screamer had gone in, he would have been a hero. In the second leg, though, he was a hero, scoring two goals and creating one. Okay, Manuel Almunia might have done better between the sticks for the free-kick but credit should be given to Ronaldo for having the audacity to do what he did.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a world class diver but he is also a world class footballer. He is a world class play-actor but he is also a world class playmaker. He is a world class whiner, but he is also a world class winger.

And both Ronaldo-lovers and Ronaldo-haters must learn to live with that.\

Ronaldo was key to win - Ferguson

2009-05-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Early goals killed off game - Ferguson

Man Utd brushed Arsenal aside with a savagery, speed and ruthlessness that had plenty of observers labelling it as football's equivalent of Manny Pacquiao's demolition of Ricky Hatton

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Arsenal had no answer to winger Cristiano Ronaldo as his side reached the Champions League final.

Ronaldo scored twice for the defending champions, who beat the Gunners 3-1 to secure a 4-1 aggregate semi-final win.

"I thought they couldn't handle Ronaldo - he was the difference," stated Ferguson, whose team scored twice in the opening 11 minutes.

"And the two quick goals knocked the wind out of their sails."

Arsenal, who lost 1-0 at Old Trafford, were left needing four goals to win the tie after United's blistering opening and Ferguson added: "Wherever you play, teams can't recover from that. It was a mountain to climb for them.

"Arsenal were throwing everything forward and we caught them on the counter-attack and the speed of play was fantastic."

Ferdinand would not swap Man Utd players

Ronaldo's second goal came in the 61st minute - the Portugal international finishing off a blistering move to put his team 3-0 ahead on the night.

"We had good shape but we needed someone to give them big problems and on that form Ronaldo's a fantastic player," added the United manager.

"When we transferred the ball to Ronaldo it was a big problem for them. Everyone played for each other. They all played their part."

United won the competition last season, defeating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in Moscow, and have been European Cup holders three times.

"We should have this cup more times than we have," said the 67-year-old Scot. "This is another opportunity for us to do so.

"I think we have the quality, the energy and the ambition to do it. It's a hungry team and when the chips are down they don't let me down."

The result means that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will have to wait at least another year for another attempt to reach the final.

And Ferguson sympathised with the Frenchman.

"When you work as hard as he does he deserves success," said Ferguson.

"The problem for Arsene Wenger and myself is that the longer you are in the game the more labels are attached to you. Success or failure.

"If you are not winning you are useless, if you are winning you're great."

United now face the winner of Wednesday's tie between Chelsea and Barcelona, with the first leg in Spain ending goalless.

Ronaldo confident of second Champions League

2009-05-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United will go on to become history-makers in Rome on May 27.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after United's 3-1 victory at The Emirates.

No side has retained the European Cup since it was revamped as the Champions League in 1992.

Now United are just one win away after a dazzling 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium that completed a comfortable aggregate triumph to seal a meeting with either Chelsea or Barcelona.

As usual, Ronaldo was in the thick of the action, smashing home an incredible 40-yard free-kick after Park Ji-sung had seized on Kieran Gibbs' slip to give United an eighth minute lead.

Ronaldo was not finished either, taking his seasonal tally to 25 by finishing off a flowing second-half counter-attack to render Robin van Persie's late consolation as totally meaningless.

"I have always believed we were going to win it again," said Ronaldo.

"That is what we have been trying to do and now we are in the final, so we have a great opportunity.

"It was not an easy match. Arsenal are a good team, so to score three goals at their own ground is just amazing.

"The whole team were superb and we deserve to be in the final."

Ronaldo was able to spare a thought for Darren Fletcher, who looks set to miss the final after the red card he was shown for a tackle on Cesc Fabregas.

TV replays showed the Scotland international touched the ball before he made contact with the Gunners skipper, raising some hope that Italian referee Roberto Rosetti will ask for the decision to be overturned.

"I am tremendously disappointed for Darren," said the world player of the year.

"He has played in most of the games and now he cannot play in the final. He deserves to - but that is football."

Ronaldo's amazing first goal was even further out than his 39.1 yard effort against FC Porto in the last round.

Even Ferguson was caught by the surprise when he saw the ferocity of the shot, although Ronaldo could not pick a favourite between the pair.

"It is difficult to say which one was the best," he said.

"They were both very good. I just tried to hit the ball hard. It makes it a very difficult shot to save."

United 5 Spurs 2

2009-04-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Man United 5
Ronaldo (57, 68), Rooney (67, 71), Berbatov (79)
Tottenham 2
Bent (29), Modric (32)

Games at Old Trafford should come with a health warning which should clearly state that they are not for the faint-hearted.

Having begun the month with a last-gasp victory over Aston Villa, the Reds ended it in similarly dramatic fashion after coming from two goals down to seal a stunning 5-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur which moved United three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.

Darren Bent and Luca Modric had given the visitors a shock two-goal lead at half-time, but Sir Alex’s men stormed back after the break thanks to a brace apiece from the outstanding Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo and another from Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian was one of five players who returned to the starting line-up after sitting out the victory over Harry Redknapp’s former side, Portsmouth, three days earlier. Rafael da Silva, who had filled in at right-back against Pompey following injuries to Gary Neville and John O'Shea, carried on where he left off, while Nani, Michael Carrick, a scorer in midweek after coming off the bench, and Rio Ferdinand were also back in the first XI. There was, however, no place for Ryan Giggs who watched on from the stands knowing he would have to wait for another day, most probably Wednesday against Arsenal, to make his 800th appearance in a red shirt.

United began the match in second following Liverpool’s earlier victory at Hull and the Reds immediately set about regaining top spot. Berbatov almost had the first sight of goal after just 30 seconds, but Darren Fletcher’s pass
was just too long for the striker allowing Heurelho Gomes to collect.

Having already secured their top flight status, Spurs came to Old Trafford with little to play for other than pride. But they weren’t about to let that pride be easily dented and with a player of Aaron Lennon’s quality in your side there’s always a chance of opening up the opposition. And that’s exactly what the pacey winger nearly did on eight minutes. Fortunately Darren Bent’s header from Lennon’s floated right-wing cross was pushed around the post by Edwin van der Sar.

At the other end, Gomes had to be alert to Cristiano Ronaldo’s speculative 40-yard free-kick which bounced awkwardly in front of the Spurs' stopper who claimed it at the second time of asking. Four minutes later the Portuguese winger flashed a header wide after jumping to meet Nani’s left-wing cross.

United appeared to be edging ever closer to an opener, but it was visitors who struck first blood on 29 minutes. Vedran Corluka’s whipped cross was missed by both Vidic and Ferdinand allowing the ball to fall to Darren Bent who smashed home from six yards.

Three minutes later things got doubly worse for United who looked more than a little shaky once more at the back. Lennon’s cross from the right dropped to the unmarked Luca Modric who chested the ball down before lashing it inside the near post.

A shell-shocked Old Trafford couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. United were in need of a minor miracle, or two, and Ronaldo almost provided it seven minutes from the
break. Having seen his initial free-kick strike the wall, the winger reacted quickest and flicked a dipping volley towards goal only to be denied by a superb finger-tip save from Gomes.

United’s comeback mission was given a further boost when Carlos Tevez replaced Nani at the break. And the Argentine was involved in the Reds’ first two chances of the second period. First he laid on a cross for Rooney who saw his curling effort deflected wide, before Tevez himself had a close-range shot repelled by Gomes after a lovely little ball from Ronaldo.

The Portuguese winger was handed the chance to get United back into the game on 57 minutes when Gomes was deemed to have upended Carrick in the area after a defence-splitting pass from Rooney had put the England international through on goal. Replays showed the keeper did in fact get a slight touch on the ball, but no-one in a red shirt cared a jot.

From the spot, Ronaldo calmly steered the ball down the middle of the goal as Gomes dived to his left. Old Trafford erupted – the fightback had begun.

Ten minutes later the Reds were back on level terms. A great one-two between Berbatov and Tevez allowed the latter to slide a pass into Rooney whose low shot through the legs of Corluka crept in at the near post after Gomes failed to get a strong enough hand on it.

Victory was now in sight and, quite unbelievably, a mere 60 seconds later United were ahead. Evra laid the ball to Rooney who cut inside from the left and sent an inswinging centre towards the onrushing Ronaldo
who met it with a diving header that bounced into the roof of the net. The relief and joy around Old Trafford was palpable.

Surely things couldn’t get any better? They could, two goals better in fact. Sublime control from Berbatov was followed by a neat lay-off to Ronaldo who clipped a lovely cross to the back post where Rooney was waiting. The striker brought the ball down and took aim. The ball hit Jonathan Woodgate on the line, but the defender was unable to stop it rolling over despite his and Ledley King’s best efforts.

Darren Bent saw a curling shot whistle inches past Van der Sar’s left-hand post soon after, before United headed upfield once more and bagged a fifth on 79 minutes. And it was another excellent move by the rampant Reds. Tevez flicked a pass into Berbatov who sent the ball out to Rooney on the left. Once again he cut inside and arrowed a pin-point cross towards Berbatov who was now waiting in the middle. His header was parried by Gomes, but the Bulgarian was able to poke home the rebound from two yards.

Van der Sar produced a fine stop from Robbie Keane six minutes from time, but it was all over by then. It had been a breathtaking comeback from United on yet another unforgettable day which edged the Reds ever closer to a third successive title.

Wayne Rooney

2009-04-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-04-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 2

2009-04-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Manchester United 3
Aston Villa 2Scorer: Ronaldo (13, 80)
Scorer: Macheda (90)

Scorer: Carew (29)
Scorer: Agbonlahor (57)
Attendance: 75409

Federico Macheda enjoyed a truly remarkable introduction to English football as he curled home an injury-time winner that sent Manchester United back to the Barclays Premier League summit.

It seemed the Red Devils would have to settle for a point after Cristiano Ronaldo's brace had only proved enough to keep United level against a Villa side that thoroughly deserved a lead provided by John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But Macheda, a former member of the Lazio academy who arrived at Old Trafford in 2007, was to have the last word.

At exactly the same moment as Yossi Benayoun struck for Liverpool at Fulham last night, Macheda turned onto Ryan Giggs' low pass before unleashing a stunning shot that curled past Brad Friedel and sent Old Trafford into ecstasy.

With Rio Ferdinand's groin injury failing to ease in time for him to be considered, United were without their first-choice defenders and their first-choice strikers amid six missing men that included Wayne Rooney.

Gary Neville's first appearance for two months was expected to come at right-back, so it was something of a surprise to see him line up alongside Jonny Evans in the centre of United's defence.

Carew's eyes certainly lit up, given his vast height advantage, which he duly exploited to the full.

wonder goal

On the back of an eight-match winless streak, Villa's confidence was a bit fragile too but their dominance in the 14 minutes before Ronaldo's wonder goal provided enough evidence for them to retain self-belief even after they had gone behind.

During that opening flurry of attacks, Fletcher kneed a Carew header onto a post and Agbonlahor sped clear of Neville only to fail in his quest to find a team-mate with a low cross.

It is difficult to understand why a team that swept all before it for virtually three months should suddenly seem to stutter.

Beyond question is the individual ability they possess, although the brutal nature of Ronaldo's 19th goal of the season still took the breath away.

Normally the kind of opportunity provided when James Milner and Friedel got themselves into a muddle, forcing the Villa keeper to handle a back pass, could be a bit of a negative given its proximity to the opponents' goal. Not on this occasion.

Ryan Giggs brushed the ball to his illustrious young team-mate, who sent it over the wall and into the roof of Friedel's net in a flash.

A sense of calm should have spread across home ranks. Instead, Villa merely came again.

Showing the form that established them in the Champions League positions at Arsenal's expense by the end of January, Agbonlahor and Ashley Young terrorised the United defence.

CRISTIANO RONALDO Star is top sporting cry-baby

2009-03-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

FIFA World Player of The Year Cristiano Ronaldo's tear-ible week is continuing after he came top of a list of sporting cry-babies. The list, compiled by 'The Sun', also includes John Terry, Paul Gascoigne, Pete Sampras, and Tiger Woods. Ronaldo - part of the Man Utd team thrashed 4-1 by bitter rivals Liverpool in Saturday - came top following his waterworks in Euro 2004, the 2005 FA Cup final against Arsenal, Portugal's 2006 World Cup exit to France and Manchester United's victory over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final. John Terry was also singled out for his blubbing after he missed a crucial penalty in the same game.

Cristiano Ronaldo Focuses On Positive Mentality In Manchester United's Quintuple Quest

2009-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Portuguese trickster wants to emulate last season's club successes...

Fleet-footed step-over merchant Cristiano Ronaldo attracted all the major individual awards last year due to his phenomenal individual goal haul that helped aid Manchester United's Premier League crown and Champions League triumph last season.

This term, though, the player wants to better not only the successes of 2008, but also 1999 as he states there is a positive viewpoint and confident coolness emanating from Old Trafford in United's quest to secure an unprecedented - and historic - quintuple.

"We’re positive about all the competitions we're involved in and we want to win them all," Ronaldo explained to the club's official website. "It would be great to achieve that.

"Last season we won the League and the European Cup, and this year we have the opportunity to do even better. We’ll continue working hard and we believe we can do this."

Manchester United, along with the seven remaining participants in the Champions League, will learn their quarter-final fate on Friday as the draw will be made in Nyon, Switzerland, at 12:00 CET.

British bookmakers such as William Hill recently revealed that they have taken a notable amount of bets from punters who believe United will face Liverpool in the semi-final.

While all the focus seems to be on United's bitter north-west rivals, Ronaldo has instead been carefully watching a potential sleeping
giant of European football.

"Bayern Munich are very strong," he opined. "I watched them play against my old team, Sporting Lisbon, and I was very sad because I did not expect Sporting to lose so heavily [12-1 on aggregate].

"But this can happen in football. Bayern are very good – they have mature players, strong players, quick players... Franck Ribery and Miroslav Klose are very impressive.

"Bayern play like a team and they look very difficult to beat," he concluded.

Happy Birthday Cristiano Ronaldo!

2009-02-05T10:30:00.001-08:00

The Portugal winger turns 24 today, but is still hungry for more trophies success with Manchester United...

Despite nursing his way back to full fitness following an ankle injury that was initially expected to keep the Portuguese international sidelined for three months, Cristiano Ronaldo returned in late September.

He is yet to hit top form, but is still one of the most efficient attackers in European football having beaten the goalkeepers of Everton; West Brom; Derby County; Gamba Osaka; Stoke City; Hull City; West Ham United; West Brom; Bolton; and Middlesbrough.

The latest recipient of FIFA's prestigious World Player of the Year award turns 24 today, and despite lifting aloft the Championship League, the Premier League, and the FIFA Club World Cup in the space of a year, the trickster is still desperate for more success with Manchester United.

"I’ve spoken to some experienced players who have a great history in the game and they’ve said, it’s not what you do in one season, it’s staying at the top level, that is the challenge," he informed the club's official website.

"I have to carry on like that. If I don’t perform, I know people will start to criticise me and I don’t want that. I’m an ambitious player and I want to win many, many more things.

Last season's 42-goal phenomenon has been constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the night he was awarded the World's greatest player of 2008, fresh rumours were printed in the Spanish and British press indicating that a coprighting of the term CR9 had been undertaken.

"I feel at home in Manchester," he said, perhaps refuting the notion he was unhappy with life in the North West. "I’ve been here since I was 18. I like living here and my family like to visit. The only bad thing is there are no direct planes from Madeira!

"But my mum and sister like to visit, it’s a nice place, nice people, they’re always good with me, no one gives me any problems. My life is brilliant!" he beamed.

Ronaldo's mother wants him at Real

2009-02-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo's mother wants the World Footballer to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid, according to fellow-Portugal international Pepe.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's mother has a dream: seeing her son play for Real Madrid. And everybody knows that mothers carry great weight," Pepe told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) in an interview.

Pepe is a good friend of Ronaldo's and he plays for a club, Real Madrid, that has been after the winger for a long time. Last year, the operation to sign him failed over the staunch opposition of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

Pepe, a great fan of Ronaldo, explained that his mother, Dolores, wants him to move to Spain soon.

"Both his mother and all his family as well as himself have made it clear that their dream is to play for Real Madrid. It is a dream that his mother has and a dream that he has too. Now we will see what happens," the centre-back said.

As to Ronaldo's chances of settling in in the Spanish capital, Pepe has few doubts.

"He would not have any problems. This is a very good changing-room atmosphere. They received me very well, and with Cristiano there would not be a problem either."

Pepe smiles each time he thinks of Ronaldo - who turned 24 last Thursday - as a teammate. He stresses, moreover, that the superstar portrays an image that does not match what he is really like.

"People have an idea of him as a person which is completely different from the real thing. I have known him since he played for Sporting Lisbon and he is a very simple person who, like any human being, likes to dress well and to have the best stuff. Since he is in a position to buy the best, he does so."

The Real Madrid defender thinks Ronaldo's personality is perfect for a major club, contrary to popular belief that he may be inclined to behave like a conceited prima donna.

"Ronaldo is an incredible person. He likes to jump and joke with everyone. He is the Portugal captain, but he is the first to be jumping around with everyone else," Pepe said.

One of the season's debates is the permanent comparison between Ronaldo and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, as to who is the better player?

Pepe votes for Ronaldo.

"They are different footballers. For me, Cristiano has more points in his favour because he heads the ball well, he is stronger and he scores goals. Messi has quality, dribbles and scores goals. For a coach, I think Cristiano is better because he is more complete," he said.

The Brazilian-born Pepe, whose full name is Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira, also spoke of Real Madrid's chances in an edition of Spain's La Liga that is clearly dominated by Barcelona.

He insists that the league is not lost, although the Catalan side has a 12-point lead over its arch-rival from the capital.

"Of course not. It is not impossible to win. It does not depend on us, but we have to keep fighting and put pressure on Barcelona," Pepe said.

Ronaldo wants more at 24

2009-02-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

Twenty-four today, Cristiano Ronaldo has his work cut out if he's to equal or top everything he achieved at 23. But as he told MUTV's Stewart Gardner recently, for all his glories so far, his ambition still burns brightly...

You won everything in 2008… how do you follow that in 2009?
I’ve spoken to some experienced players who have a great history in the game and they’ve said, it’s not what you do in one season, it’s staying at the top level, that is the challenge. I have to carry on like that. If I don’t perform, I know people will start to criticise me and I don’t want that. I’m an ambitious player and I want to win many, many more things.

How did you go from scoring a few goals in your first few seasons, to 42?
When I arrived at 18 I was a good player, but not in decision-making, like whether I have to pass the ball or dribble. Winning trophies and being at this club, it gives you maturity, and I have learnt a lot. When you’re playing around great players you learn many things. So I’ve improved every season, and the last season was the best of them all. But I want more – this season I want to score the same amount of goals, or more if it’s possible. I know it will be hard, but I have it in my head that it’s possible.

What’s your favourite goal from last season?
It’s hard, but I have a few! The header in Rome, the free-kick against Portsmouth, and the flick against Aston Villa. I’ll choose those!

What's the secret of your free-kicks?
Many people have asked me, but there is no secret! That’s just my style of shooting, and everyone has their own style. I like to hit it strong, the ball starts to move

Are you bothered by the booing at away grounds?
It’s normal for me now. If it doesn’t happen I’m thinking, “Why aren’t they booing me?!” Maybe they think if they boo, I’ll lose my concentration, but it doesn’t happen: I like it!

Some say you don’t get enough protection – has that changed?
The referees have a very hard job and I respect them, but sometimes I don’t agree with what happens. If you want to have a good league and quick football, you have to protect the skilful players, because they are the ones that put on a show and that’s what the fans want. But there are some very good referees in the Premier League.

How important is it to entertain?
I like it when people come to the games and see nice moments, nice tricks, but you have to do it for the team. You can’t do well in every game and people must understand that.

Who are your best friends at the club?
I speak more with the Portuguese-speaking players like Nani, Anderson, Rafael, Manucho, but I could say everyone. Carlos, Pat, Rio, Vida, Edwin... the team spirit at United is great and sometimes it's the most important thing. There is a togetherness, you can have a joke with everyone. I think that’s why the team works well, why we win things.

Previously, we published another extract in which Ronaldo talks about transfer speculation and his future plans. You'll find this in Exclusive Interviews.

Cristiano Ronaldo sketch by Mossab Guerroumi

2009-02-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yet another unexpected achievement - Ronaldo most hated player in the Premier League.

2009-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo might be idolized by thousands of Manchester United fans, but he is the most hated player in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old Portuguese winger, and World Player of the Year, topped a poll of over 2,500 football fans taking a massive 48 percent of the votes.

Fans - picked the most hated player - said they disliked him and other footballers because of their foul play, arrogance and constant diving.

69 percent of fans also commented that Ronaldo is 'full of himself' which is a bit strange ... have the other 31 percent never seen him?
Senegalese Sunderland striker El-Hadji Diouf came second in the poll, followed by Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton, best known publicly for his stint in prison for assault.

Wes Lewis of Wheresthematch.com which commissioned the study isn't surprised about Ronaldo’s placement in the poll,

"Ronaldo is undoubtedly talented, but the old phrase ‘nobody likes a show-off’ is particularly apt in this case.

"For him to place higher than Diouf, whose spitting during matches has gained him notoriety within football circles, he must be doing something wrong.

"The good news for Ronaldo is that he is young enough to rectify this. His main problem as the survey says is his ego, which even though warranted to some degree needs to be toned down."

Top 10 hated players in the Barclays Premiership:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. El-Hadji Diouf
3. Joey Barton
4. Ashley Cole
5. Craig Bellamy
6. Didier Drogba
7. Gary Neville
8. Rio Ferdinand
9. Emmanuel Adebayor
10. Kevin Davis

Cristiano Ronaldo Has Signed A Contract With Real Madrid

2009-02-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

Reports in the Spanish press today suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid, and that if he doesn't join this summer, he will have to pay the Spanish club €20 million...

Cristiano Ronaldo will have to pay Real Madrid €20 million if he does not join them next summer according to Sport.

The Spanish site reports that the agent for the Portuguese winger, Jorge Mendes, signed a pre-contract agreement with former Real Madrid president, Ramon Calderon, whilst he was still in office.

This deal is apparently worth €100m, and if Ronaldo does not join, then Sport reports that he will have to pay €20m, as he has broken the agreement.

It seemed as though Ronaldo was going to join Madrid last summer, and even though he did stay at Manchester United, the rumours continue about a potential move for the Portuguese superstar.

Calderon himself was at the centre of the chaos at the time and, if this is true, he must be frustrated that he will not be in office next summer to see the player finally arrive.

For Ronaldo, this deal could well mean that he will have to try and convince Sir Alex Ferguson to sell him, else he will end up losing a substantial sum of money, which even such a well-paid played is likely to miss.

The winger has been recognised as the best player in the world, winning the Ballon d’Or, however, it is thought that he wants a new challenge after winning just about everything possible with United.

The English club would be incredibly reluctant to let go of him, and one saving grace for them could be the fact that Calderon has gone.

If Florentino Perez wins the presidential elections, as is predicted at the moment, it is highly unlikely that he will want this deal to go through, not because he does not want Ronaldo, but because he will want to start a fresh.

Perez will not want to cash in on a deal made by Calderon, and for that reason, Manchester United could be saved, although for how long is anybody's guess.

Cristiano Ronaldo magic sends Manchester United five points clear

2009-02-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

United 1 Everton 0

Another game, another United win, another record.

This hard-fought victory extended the champions’ lead at the top of the table and, in keeping another clean sheet, Edwin van der Sar has now broken the all-time record in the entire English football league.

Like last season, the game was settled by a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. This one, which came just before the interval, was the winger’s 14th goal of the season.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo needed heart operation to save career
Cristiano Ronaldo's footballing career could have ended before it had even began were it not for a heart operation when he was just 15 years old.

According to the Sun, doctors diagnosed a 'racing heart' when Ronaldo was in his mid-teens and it was feared the Portuguese winger, now the World Footballer of trhe Year, would have to give up playing.

He was playing for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon when the problem emerged.

He underwent thorough medical examinations and it was decided to operate to solve his irregular heartbeat.

The condition is not uncommon and many high-profile footballers have suffered from heart difficulties.

Former Manchester City midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died while playing for Cameroon in 2003, while France World Cup winner Lilian Thuram was forced to retire last year because of a heart problem.

Portsmouth striker Kanu is another with a history of heart concerns. However, fortunately for Ronaldo, delicate laser surgery cured his problem and enabled him to become the world's No 1 player.

Ronaldo's mother, Dolores Aveiro, said: "His heart raced a lot when he wasn't running.

"The people in charge at Sporting alerted me and I went to Portugal where I had to sign some papers and authorise him being treated in hospital.

"They used a sort of laser to cauterise the source of the problem. He was operated on in the morning and came out at the end of the afternoon.

"Before we knew exactly what he had I was worried because there was the possibility of him giving up playing football.

"But the treatment went well and after some days he was back at training again."

Cristiano Ronaldo:FIFA player of the year

2009-01-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo and the FIFA World Player of the Year Award

2009-01-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ronaldo declared FIFA Player of year2008

“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won........I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.” Ronaldo said.

"Being named FIFA World Player of the Year is overwhelming. It's a dream come true and it's one of the most important moments of my life."
- Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo congratulated by Pele

Cristiano Ronaldo shows emotion after being named the FIFA World Player of the Year for 2008.

Ronaldo 'n' Marta wins FIFA Player of the year 2008

Ronaldo 'n' all other nominees(Xavi , Torres , Messi , Kaka')

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player from English Premiere League to win FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, which is appropriate, because Cristiano Ronaldo was the best player in the world over the past twelve months. Lionel Messi, who finished second, and Fernando Torres, who finished third, do more to warm my heart, but it was Ronaldo who occupied the perilous center of everybody's lens and rifle sight last year, and that didn't happen by chance.

Rather than repeating everything I wrote after his Ballon d'Or win last month, actually, I'll just link to it. What's happened since then is that he crashed his Ferrari into a tunnel, which didn't suddenly grant him unambiguous significance. But there's no other footballer who wouldn't have been diminished by all the ridicule that followed (from me, too). With Ronaldo, all that mockery seems to one side of the truth. Even if you can't put your finger on what the truth is, which was basically my argument after the Ballon d'Or, it's not hard to spot the destiny that's going to carry him through every attempt to tear him down—probably pouting, spiky, and with the collar of his polo shirt turned up, but intact at least until he gives in to his own frustration.

The results:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (935 points)
2. Lionel Messi (678)
3. Fernando Torres (203)
4. Kaka (183)
5. Xavi (155)

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo Says It Is Hard Being Ronaldo

2009-01-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

Speaking on the eve of the announcement of the FIFA World Player Of The Year, Cristiano Ronaldo has said it is hard being him...

The announcement of the FIFA World Player Of The Year is to be made this evening, and Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo is the hot favourite to add to his individual awards of 2008.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Cristiano Ronaldo revealed that is hard being him as people are all to ready to pick up on - and highlight, and emphasise - his mistakes.

"Sometimes its hard to be Cristiano Ronaldo because one mistake and everyone will kill you", he said.

"I know that, but this is normal... this is life, and I'm ready for it."

He continued: "If people put me up, everyone is looking at me waiting for a mistake. You have to play well all the time, which is hard to do.

"I know that last season was not lucky, but I know I can do better, and better. I know I can do that well again.

"It is difficult performing at the top level all the time," he added. "Last season I did brilliant, but this season I've scored ten goals till now, from injury. I feel I can hit good form and the current Cristiano is getting better and better."

Manchester United defeated rivals Chelsea 3-0 at the weekend to move to within five points of Liverpool, with two games in hand.

Cristiano Ronaldo, PFA Player of the Year, 2007-08 (PA)

2009-01-12T07:59:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Unhurt After Crashing Ferrari

2009-01-08T07:41:00.001-08:00

Ronaldo's crashed Ferrari

Front view

Rear view

Front left wheel

Ronaldo against Derby United

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is unhurt after crashing his Ferrari in a tunnel near Manchester Airport at 10:20 a.m. local time time.

Ronaldo, 23, was on his way to practice when the horrific accident occurred. "Officers attended and discovered a Ferrari had collided with a barrier, according to a statement by Greater Manchester Police. "No one is believed to have been injured."

According to unconfirmed reports, Ronaldo's Manchester United teammate Edwin van der Sar was driving the car behind Cristiano when the horrific crash occurred. The Portuguese star was able to get out of his mangled car and showed no sign of injury.

Witnesses say Ronaldo's Ferrari is a "mangled wreck," with police confirming it was damaged beyond repair. Cristiano was traveling through a two-lane tunnel at Manchester Airport when he hit the wall – sending parts of the barrier flying across the dual carriageway. cristiano ronaldo manchester united

A witness told a London newspaper that Ronaldo was just at the side of the road looking bewildered. Says one eyewitness: "It's amazing he was okay because his car looked so bad!"

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

I want to stay at Manchester United: Ronaldo

2009-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed fresh speculation linking him with the Spanish football club Real Madrid.

The Manchester United ace came close to joining the Spanish giants last summer. Ronaldo insisted that he is happy with life at Old Trafford and has no intention of turning his back on boss Alex Ferguson.

The Sun quoted the Portugal winger as saying: "There's always speculation, not just about me, but about the future of players all around the world. What people are saying now is not true. Whoever says that I am joining Madrid is a liar because I am happy at the club, I want to stay here.”

Manchester United Have A Ploy To Keep Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

Man United fans can breathe easier in the New Year after Cristiano Ronaldo pledged his future to the club. But the war of words is not quite over yet…

The Cristiano Ronaldo-Manchester United-Real Madrid soap opera finally looked all but over right on the last day of 2008, appropriately, after the Portuguese sensation himself publicly declared that he wanted to remain at Old Trafford.

But the feud that has been brewing between the recently crowned Club World Cup champions and the Madrid-affiliated press shows no sign of dying down, after Marca uncovered a campaign by United to ensure Ronaldo would have no reason to swap the Theatre of Dreams for the Santiago Bernabéu.

The sceptical Spanish paper believes that after manager Sir Alex Ferguson had convinced Ronaldo to stay at United in July, he ordered all those associated with the club to do two things: discredit Real Madrid’s image while continually heaping praise on the superstar Portuguese.

Marca booms that Ferguson himself has taken care of all the the bad-mouthing, while the club’s official website has spent every month since the start of the new season awarding some form of accolade or another to Ronaldo.

It would seem that Los Blancos themselves have already moved on from the whole debacle by focusing their resources on other transfer targets, but some of the press in Spain, on the other hand, are still finding it difficult to let the matter go.

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

CR7 : In NIKE Ad

2009-01-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

CR7 Achievements

2009-01-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2007
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2007
PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2007
PFA Premiership Team of the Year: 2005-2006, 2006-2007
Football Writers’ Association Award: 2007
Barclays Player of the Season: 2006-2007
Barclays Player of the Month: November 2006, December 2006
PFA Fans’ Player of the Month: October 2006, February 2007
FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
Portuguese Sports Personality: 2006
Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2007
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2006-2007
Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year: 2006-2007
FA Premier League: 2006-2007
FA Cup: 2004
Football League Cup: 2006
Community Shield: 2007
Barclay's Premier League: 2007-2008
UEFA Champions League: 2007-2008
Ballon d'Or: 2008
FIFA World Club: 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-07T00:26:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-07T00:21:00.000-08:00

FIFA World Player of the Year Award 2008

2009-01-06T01:34:00.000-08:00

Footballing experts from FIFA's Football Committee and the Committee for Women's Football have had their say by cutting down to five the list of men to be crowned as the FIFA World Players for 2008. Kaka, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Xavi are the last five.

Though obviously, the final decision will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams on Monday 12 January 2009 in Zurich, Leadership Sports take a critical look of the five nominees:

Ronaldo, Man United's Portuguese Prince:

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the hottest talents in world football. With his surging runs and dazzling skills performed at blistering pace, comparisons with his Brazilian namesake have been inevitable.

Born on the island of Madeira on 5 February 1985, he began his footballing education with Nacional before a 2002 transfer to Lisbon giants Sporting, at the age of 17. The winger's rise to stardom since then has been nothing short of meteoric. During his first and only season with the club in 2002/03, he played in 25 games and scored three goals.

2008 has been a year of remarkable achievements for Ronaldo. Starting the year in auspicious fashion, with his first hat-trick for Manchester United on 12 January, he finished the Premier League season with a stunning total of 31 goals, enough to earn him the European Golden Shoe for the first time. His goals propelled United not only to another Premier League title, but the UEFA Champions League crown as well. Ronaldo scored United's only goal in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the final in Moscow, in a match which the Red Devils eventually won in a penalty shoot-out.

Ronaldo performed creditably at international level again at EURO 2008, although Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

The FIFA World Player of the Year Award would be a welcome addition to the 23-year-old's trophy cabinet, and would further emphasise the fact that the Portuguese winger has successfully made the transition from being a player with potential to a star in his own right

PFA Premier League Team of the Year, 2007-08

2009-01-06T01:30:00.000-08:00

The question about whos the best player in English Premiership League has clear now after Professional Footballers’ Association announced Manchester United soccerstar Cristiano Ronaldo as PFA Player Of The Year. Cristiano Ronaldo also awarded as the Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association. Cristiano Ronaldo rival Chelsea striker Didier Drogba came second and Ronaldo’s team-mate in Man Utd Paul Scholes was third in the voting for PFA Player Of The Year. While for PFA Young Player of the Year Arsenal Fabregas was second and Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon, came third.

“It is a special night. It is amazing and a big honour for me to win trophies like this in the English Premier League. I am very proud.” Cristiano Ronaldo said. “I want to keep working hard and getting better because these trophies have now given me more motivation.” Ronaldo added.

Professional Footballers’ Association also choose PFA Premier League Team of the Year, 2007:
Goalkeeper : Edwin van der Sar
Defender : Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra
Midfielder : Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs
Forwarder : Didier Drogba and Dimitar Berbatov

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-06T01:20:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-06T01:14:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-06T01:06:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-01-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

CR7 Best Free Kicks

2009-01-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

Top 10 goals by CR7

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Cristiano Ronaldo Golleril

2009-01-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo Golleril - Funny home videos are a click away

Cristiano Ronaldo ~ Impossible is Nothing ~ 07-08 Season

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~Cristiano ronaldo {Skills and Goals}2008 New Season !!! ~ Speedin

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Cristiano Ronaldo - Season 08/09 ! That boy Ron...

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Cristiano Ronaldo Bio..

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Ronaldo in ManU jersey

Ronaldo in Portugal jersey

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on the 5th of February, 1985 in Madeira, Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo DOS Santos Aveiro. He has become one of the best football players in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo was discovered in his teen years when he was playing for the Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon. Since the year 2003, when the Sporting Lisbon beat Manchester United, the Manchester United leaders signed the contract with Ronaldo and he is now a football player for Manchester United football team in England.

Cristiano Ronaldo in his short football player career has gained an astonishing recognition and achievements.

His player number is number 7 and Cristiano Ronaldo has played for Portugal very successfully at the Olympic Games in the year 2004, where he scored 10 goals in 24 games for Portugal.

Additional to his football career Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in various charitable organizations (including giving financially to Indonesian tsunami victims and by visiting the global poor places in Africa, Indonesia and other regions). He is also involved in modeling.

Cristiano Ronaldo in Glamour World

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FIFA World Player of the Year Award

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Cristiano Ronaldo Voted Mr. Handsome At Euro 2008

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Cristiano Ronaldo has added another award to his growing collection, but this one isn’t for his familiar dribbling skills or scoring abilities. This award labels him ‘The Most Beautiful Player Of The Tournament’.

LG electronics polled 12,000 women across Europe to name the most handsome player in this year’s Euro Championship, and Portugal International, Cristiano Ronaldo took the honors.

According to the LG Poll, Cristiano’s ‘talent and Latin good looks’ won him the title.

French forward Thierry Henry came in second, ahead of injured Italian skipper Fabio Cannavaro and Freddie Ljungberg of Sweden who drew for third place.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest fans apparently hailed from Italy, Germany and Sweden.

Cristiano Ronaldo voted World Player of the Year by FIFPro

2009-01-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo has received yet another award for his stunning performance in last season when he scored 42 goals and won English and European championship with Manchester United.The International Federation of Professional Footballers, FIFPro,declared that Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the 2008 World Player of the Year.
In the survey, which involved 57,500 FIFPro’s members from 40 countries around the world Cristiano has been chosen for the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo pointed out: “To be recognised by my fellow professional players worldwide, coming from over 50,000 players is amazing.“I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches and everyone involved at Manchester United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support. “Thank you also to FIFPro for this award and for your work in protecting the interests and welfare of players around the world.”

CR7 : The Silent Assasin

2009-01-03T01:18:00.000-08:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Ronaldo with FIFA Club World Cup

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Ronaldo & Sir Alex Fergusson

Ronaldo & Rio Ferdinand

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or

2009-01-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

A Dream Come True
Cristiano Ronaldo won another award, this time Ballon d'Or award, which is given by the magazine France Football.Cristiano was called as Kaka's successor on Tuesday morning and is the first Portuguese after Luis Figo(2000) to win the desirable Ballon d'Or award.
On Sunday Cristiano was introduced with the Ballon d'Or award(golden ball) on a TV ceremonial in Paris and admitted it embodied a dream come true.

“''It's a dream I've had since I was younger, I've always dreamed about winning it one day.”he stated for the magazine.

Ronaldo with Golden boots : Wins English Soccer Player of the Year Award

2009-01-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo was selected the English Soccer Player of the Year by his fellow soccer professionals in England in their eyes he deserve it for the secon year in the row .

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo has just about exhausted all superlatives, except to say that having developed and matured from a young and inexperienced winger when he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, he's now among the best and most dynamic attacking forces in the world.

Signed as a largely unknown 18-year-old for £12.24m, the story goes that Sir Alex was persuaded to sign him by his players on the plane home from a pre-season friendly against Sporting that summer. In truth, the boss had long been aware of his ability. The urgency to sign him stemmed from interest from other top European clubs. This was a target Sir Alex simply
couldn’t let slip through the net.

Ronaldo wasted little time in showing off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-minute debut against Bolton at Old Trafford in August 2003. After 39 appearances and eight goals – including the opener in the FA Cup final win over Millwall – he was named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2003/04. His second season never quite lived up to his first. But some late season form saw him end the 2004/05 campaign with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny again reserved his best form for the latter half of the season. Then came the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, a truly defining moment. In the quarter finals against England, Cristiano was blamed for Wayne Rooney’s sending off, the scapegoat for England’s exit. Some wondered if he would even return to Manchester. But Sir Alex’s calming words assured him. After all, it’d happened before with Eric Cantona in 1995 and David Beckham in 1998. The best players respond to adversity, and he did just that.

United’s title success in 2006/2007 was undoubtedly a team effort, but one player was central to almost every major plotline. It began with the barnstorming 5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo and Rooney running the show and very publicly rubbishing claims the two were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed with regular assists and crucial goals, including seven in five games over Christmas.

His form in the 2006/2007 season brought Ronaldo 14 individual awards and, despite interest from other clubs, he extended his contract until 2012. The winger's performances also earned him third place in the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. Ronaldo somehow continues to improve and in 2007/2008, he scored his first United hat-trick and his 50th league goal for the club in a 6-0 romp over Newcastle on the way to netting a staggering 42 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle Mix - The most amazing bloopers are here

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo

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