CR7

International player Cristiano Ronaldo, CR7,

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.

Cristiano Ronaldo perfected his skills in the following years and also managed to stand out for his intelligence and great physique. He would go on to win 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.

The Madridista forward made his international debut on 20 August 2003 against Kazakhstan and has since become the captain of Portugal, who he led into action in the 2010 World Cup.

    La Liga, 2011/12
    Copa del Rey, 2011
    Spanish Super Cup, 2012
    Super League, 2002
    FA Cup, 2004
    Football League Cup, 2006, 2009
    Premier League, 2007 2008, 2009
    Community Shield, 2007, 2008
    UEFA Champions League, 2008
    FIFA Club World Cup, 2008
     
    Bravo Trophy: 2004
    FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
    Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007
    FA Premier League Player of the Year 2007
    Ballon d'Or runner-up: 2007
    FIFA World Player, third place: 2007
    UEFA Champions League Top-Scorer: 2008
    Golden Boot: 2008
    UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008
    UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2008
    FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2008
    Ballon d'Or, 2008
    FIFA World Player, 2008

#Cristiano Ronaldo #CR7