Manchester United player profile - Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, more commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United and Portugal footballer, was born on 12th February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira. He started to show a flair for football early on and at eight years old started playing for CF Andorinha. Cristiano Ronaldo continued to impress and two years later age ten signed for Madeiran side CD Nacional. Following a successful season with CD Nacional the name and reputation of Cristiano Ronaldo began to gain prominence and Sporting Lisbon took the youngster on trial and subsequently signed him. After playing through the ranks of Sporting's youth teams he made his senior debut in 2001 against Moreirense scoring two goals in the process.

In 2002 Cristiano Ronaldo featured for Portugal in the UEFA under 17 championships where his performance put him in the European football shop window from where the then Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier took an interest in him, but, it was a year later that Cristiano Ronaldo's career took a major turn. In 2003 Manchester United travelled to Lisbon to play against Sporting Lisbon in a match to mark the inauguration of the Alvalade XXI stadium, and, it was at this time that Sir Alex Ferguson, already aware of the youngsters ability, took a greater interest in the 18 year old Cristiano Ronaldo. Shortly after the match, and a £12.2 million deal, Manchester United unveiled their latest aquisition, Cristiano Ronaldo.

When Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford he requested the no 28 shirt but was instead handed the no 7 shirt recently vacated by David Beckham. His debut came early in the 2003/04 season when he came on as a substitute against Bolton Wanderers. The standing ovation he received was well deserved as he was pivotal in turning around a 1-0 Bolton lead to a 3-1 Manchester United win. United finished third in the Premier League in the 2003/04 season but the success enjoyed by Cristiano Ronaldo in his first season with them led to his regular inclusion in the Portuguese national team. As a player Cristiano Ronaldo has great ability on the ball and is not afraid to run with it at opposing players and perform his trademark stepovers, he is a two-footed player, a prolific goalscorer and deadball specialist. Cristiano Ronlado's first major honour with Manchester United came in 2007 when they won the Premier league, the following season (2007/08) he scored an incredible 42 goals in all competitions and won both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United.