Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United
200304 season
There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but
this is the first time it's been a compliment to me.

Former Manchester United player George Best on the 18 year old Ronaldo.[33]
Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player when he signed f
or 12.24 million before the 200304 season.[34] He was given the number 7 shirt by
United manager Alex Ferguson,[35] who said that after a friendly with Sporting,
United's players "talked about him constantly, and on the plane back from the ga
me they urged me to sign him" and that "he is one of the most exciting young pla
yers I've ever seen".[36][37] Ronaldo later revealed that he had requested the n
umber 28 (his number at Sporting), as he did not want the pressure of living up
to the expectation linked to the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn
by United legends such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beck
ham.[38] "After I joined, the manager asked me what number I'd like. I said 28.
But Ferguson said 'No, you're going to have No. 7,' and the famous shirt was an
extra source of motivation. I was forced to live up to such an honour".[38]
I want to be one of the best players around in two or three years' time. I would
be very proud if, one day, I'm held in the same esteem as George Best or David
Beckham

Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.[39]

Ronaldo made his team debut as a 60th-minute substitute in a 40 home victory over
Bolton Wanderers,[40] and produced a performance hailed by Alex Ferguson as "ma
rvellous".[41][42] His early form earned high praise from United legend George B
est, who said that Ronaldo was "special",[33] while former manager Ron Atkinson
effused about his "his pace and quick thinking" and how it meant United could "s
pring very quickly from defence into attack".[43]
He scored his first goal for Manchester United with a free kick in a 30 win over
Portsmouth on 1 November 2003.[44] His only other league goals in the season all
came in 2004; he scored the second in a 30 win against Tottenham Hotspur on 20 M
arch,[45] the equalising goal in a 21 victory away to Birmingham City on 10 April
,[46] and the opener in a 20 victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the sea
son in a game in which he also received his first red card.[47] Ronaldo also sco
red in the fifth round of the 200304 FA Cup in a 42 Manchester derby against Manch
ester City.[48] Ronaldo ended his first season in English football by scoring th
e opening goal in United's 30 FA Cup Final victory over Millwall,[49] with his pe
rformance receiving praise from Gary Neville who said "I think Ronaldo can be on
e of the top footballers in the world".[50]
Ronaldo playing against Chelsea in April 2006.
200405 season
Ronaldo had to wait until December to score his first goal of the season, scorin
g the third in a 30 victory against Southampton.[51] His second came in a 31 win a
gainst Aston Villa,[52] with an assist for Paul Scholes prompting Ferguson to sa
y that he "had his best game of the season and was a constant threat to Villa".[
53] He pit in a similarly praiseworthy performance after he scored two goals aga
inst rivals Arsenal in a 42 win,[54][55] with his finishing described as "expert"
that had applied the "coup de grace" to Arsenal.[56] His final goal of the seas
on came in a victory over Fulham, scoring the only goal of the game from 25 yard
s in a game in which Ferguson hailed him as "our best player".[57]
Ronaldo scored four goals on United's run to the 2005 FA Cup Final, scoring goal
s against Exeter City,[58] Everton,[59] Southampton,[60] and Newcastle United.[6
1]
200506 season
Ronaldo scored United's 1000th Premier League goal on 29 October 2005 in a 41 los
s to Middlesbrough,[62] In November, he signed a new contract which extended his
previous deal by two years to 2010, and stated that staying at the club was "im
portant for the development of my career".[63] He was sent off in the Manchester
derby at the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 January 2006 (a game which United
lost 31) for kicking City's former United player Andy Cole.[64] Ronaldo won his
second trophy in English football in the 200506 season, scoring the third goal in
Manchester United's 40 Football League Cup final victory over Wigan Athletic.[65
] He scored three braces in the 200506 season, scoring two goals each against Bol
ton Wanderers,[66] Fulham,[67] and Portsmouth.[68]
In January 2006, Ronaldo was at the centre of a training ground bust-up with Ruu
d van Nistelrooy that eventually lead to the striker's departure from the club a
t the end of the season, with van Nistelrooy angry at Ronaldo's showboating styl
e of play.[69] The two again clashed in May, with van Nistelrooy telling Ronaldo
to go and "go crying to your daddy", a pithy reference to Ronaldo's relationshi
p with assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, leading to a brief fight.[70] Van Niste
lrooy was left on the subtitutes bench for the final game of the season against
Charlton Athletic but left the stadium three hours before the game, a 40 win in w
hich Ronaldo scored his ninth league goal of the season.[71][72]
200607 season
Ronaldo with United during their 200607 season
After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which he was involved in an incident where clu
b teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off,[73][74] Ronaldo was linked with moves away
from United, with Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Valencia both linked with him.[
75][76] The situation led to Ronaldo asking for a transfer, saying "I think I sh
ould get out of Manchester. The circumstances are not right to keep playing in M
anchester. In two or three days I will decide where to go. I always said I wante
d to play in Spain", and claimed that he received no support over the red card,
saying "nobody stood up for me at Manchester, although I did not do anybody any
harm. For some time, I haven't had any support from my chief executive or my coa
ch. They should have come out in my defence but no-one did".[77][78] United were
adamant that he would stay at the club, releasing a statement saying: "Cristian
o recently signed a contract until 2010 and the club expects him to honour that
contract. The club will not listen to any offers for Cristiano".[79][80] United
manager Alex Ferguson said "without any question, Ronaldo will be our player nex
t season",[81] and backed Ronaldo to silence any critics as David Beckham and Er
ic Cantona had done in the past.[82] Following the incident, Ronaldo and Rooney
both immediately denied any rift.[83] Rooney said: "I bear no ill feeling to Cri
stiano" over the incident.[84]
Ahead of the 200607 season, Bobby Charlton warned Ronaldo that he would be booed
by opposition fans,[85] but backed him to overcome any potential backlash,[86] a
s did Rooney.[87] In the first game of the season, Ronaldo scored on the opening
day of the season in a 51 win against Fulham, where, as Charlton had predicted,
he was booed by Fulham fans.[88] and his performance earned praise from Ferguson
.[89] Ronaldo was booed throughout the season, and noticeably silenced Reading f
ans with the equalising goal in a 11 draw on 23 September.[90] United goalkeeper
Edwin van der Sar thought Ronaldo responded to being booed by letting it inspire
him, saying that it "only serves to drive Cristiano onto even higher ground, to
greater heights. Cristiano hasn't let what happened and the reaction affect him
at all. He is a very strong guy and has shown that this season".[91]
The amount of goals and the amount of assists he's had has been frightening. I h
aven't seen anybody take players on, score goals and make goals like he has in t
his first half of the season, so he rightfully deserves that tag [of being the w
orld's best player].

Teammate Paul Scholes on Ronaldo's form in the 200607 season.[92]

The season proved to be the breakout year for Ronaldo, as he broke the 20 goal b
arrier for the first time and picked up his first league title with Manchester U
nited. An important factor in this success was his one-to-one training by first
team coach Ren Meulensteen. Meulensteen coached him in moves to make himself more
unpredictable. He also helped him to work better with his team-mates, calling f
or the ball and scoring more 'ugly' goals instead of waiting for the special occ
asion when he could score the 'beautiful' goals for which he was already famous.
[93] Ronaldo's upturn in form was showcased in a trip to Ewood Park in November
when he received a standing ovation from a section Blackburn Rovers supporters a
s he was substituted.[94]
In November and December 2006, Ronaldo received consecutive Barclays Player of t
he Month honours, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to do
so after Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 and Robbie Fowler in 1996.[95][96] His form wa
s epitomised with three consecutive braces at the end of December, the first of
which came in a 30 victory over Aston Villa on 23 December which put United top a
t Christmas.[97] He followed it up on Boxing Day with two goals against Wigan At
hletic in a 31 victory where he came off the bench at half-time to score a four m
inute double salvo, the second of which marked his 10th goal of the season, to p
ut United four clear of Chelsea.[98] His third brace came on 30 December in a 32
victory against Reading.[99]
Hes the one player Id love to pay money to go and see play. Im sure Ronaldo is alre
ady in the best in the world bracket. Hes only 21 and he will get even better.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.[92]

On 24 February 2007, he scored a "dramatic" late winner against Fulham which put
United nine points clear at the top of the league table.[100] Ronaldo scored cr
ucial goals against Middlesbrough in the 200607 FA Cup quarter-final; he scored t
he equaliser from the penalty spot which ensured a 22 draw on 10 March,[101] and
he again scored a penalty in the replay nine days later after he was fouled by J
onathan Woodgate,[102] before later being on the receiving end of a reckless tac
kle from James Morrison for which he received a red card.[103] After the game, G
eorge Boateng said "one day, someone will hurt him properly", for which Boateng
was punished by Middlesbrough.[104] On 10 April, Ronaldo helped United reach the
semi-final of the Champions League, scoring his first two Champions League goal
s in a 71 victory against Roma.[105][106] On 14 April, Ronaldo helped United reac
h the FA Cup Final, putting United 21 up against Watford in a match which ended 41
.[107] On 24 April, he scored four minutes into United's Champions League semi-f
inal against Milan as United won the first leg 32,[108] but was marked out of the
second leg as United lost 30 in the San Siro.[109] On 5 May, he scored his 50th
Manchester United goal against city rivals Manchester City in a 10 victory as Uni
ted claimed their first Premier League title in four years.[110]
Despite rumours in March 2007 that Real Madrid were willing to pay an unpreceden
ted 80 million (54 million) for Ronaldo,[111] with Real president Ramn Caldern publi
cly saying that "we'll be first in the queue" had United opted to sell him,[112]
he signed a five-year, 120,000-a-week (31 million total) extension with United on
13 April.[113] Ronaldo and Ferguson both spoke of their delight at the new deal
, with Ronaldo saying "I am very happy at the club", while Ferguson said that "i
t emphasises the point that Cristiano is happy here and that he is at the right
club".[114]
Ronaldo amassed a host of personal awards for the season. He won the PFA Players
' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards, joining Andy Gray
(in 1977) as the only players to receive this honour.[115] In April, he complete
d the treble by winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Year. He also won the FWA Fo
otballer of the Year,[116] becoming the first player to win all four main PFA an
d FWA awards. Ronaldo was also one of eight Manchester United players named in t
he 200607 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.[117]
Ronaldo (left) and Carlos Tevez prior to a Champions League match.
200708 season
Ronaldo's 200708 season began with a red card for a headbutt on Portsmouth player
Richard Hughes during United's second match of the season, for which he was pun
ished with a three-match ban.[118] Ronaldo said he had "learned a lot" from the
experience and would not let players "provoke" him in the future.[119]
His first goal of the season came in the first game of the 200708 UEFA Champions
League group stage, scoring a 62nd minute header on his return to former club Sp
orting in a 10 victory on 19 September.[120] He scored two goals against Dynamo K
yiv on 23 October in a 40 win,[121] and scored in the return fixture as United qu
alified for the knockout stage with a 40 win.[122] Ronaldo's fifth goal of the co
mpetition came in the final minute of the game of the return fixture against Spo
rting; with the score at 11, he scored a 30 yard free-kick that he described as "
fabulous".[123]
Due to the three match suspension, his first league goal didn't come until 29 Se
ptember, when he scored the only goal of the game in a victory against Birmingha
m City.[124] By Christmas, Ronaldo had 13 league goals, including doubles agains
t Wigan Athletic in a 40 which put United top of the league,[125] Blackburn Rover
s,[126] Fulham,[127] and Everton, with his second coming from the penalty spot i
n the 88th minute in a 21 victory.[128]
He finished as the runner-up to Kak for the 2007 Ballon d'Or,[129] and was third
in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Kak and Lionel
Messi.[130]
I don't think there is a winger in this world that can do that and that's the me
asure of the quality of the lad and his scoring ability.

Alex Ferguson, on Ronaldo's scoring record during the 200708 season.[131]

Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United in a 60 win against Newc
astle United at Old Trafford on 12 January 2008, bringing Manchester United up t
o the top of the Premier League table.[132] He scored his twenty-third league go
al of the season in a 20 win against Reading, equalling his entire total for the
200607 season.[133] On 30 January, he scored another two goals against Portsmouth
,[134] which included a free-kick which was described as one of the greatest eve
r,[135] and scored another brace in a 51 victory against Newcastle United on 23 F
ebruary.[136]
On 19 March 2008, Ronaldo captained United for the first time in his career in a
home win over Bolton, again scoring both goals in the 20 victory.[137] The secon
d of the goals was his 33rd of the campaign, which set a new club single-season
scoring record by a midfielder and thus topped George Best's forty-year-old tota
l of 32 goals in the 196768 season.[138] In the championship run in, Ronaldo scor
ed against Middlesbrough in a 22 draw,[139] an equalising retaken penalty against
Arsenal in a 21 win a week later,[140] and the opening two goals against West Ha
m United in a 41 victory.[141] Ronaldo scored his final league goal of the season
, a goal which put United 10 in front, from the penalty spot in the title decider
against Wigan on 11 May before Ryan Giggs scored the second to clinch the title
for United.[142]
In the knockout stage of the Champions League against Olympique Lyonnais on 4 Ma
rch, Ronaldo scored the decisive goal in the second leg which helped United adva
nce 21 on aggregate,[143] and in the Champions League quarter final, he played as
a striker and scored against Roma with a header,[144] Despite him missing a pen
alty in the semi-final first leg against Barcelona,[145] United eventually advan
ced to the 200708 Champions League final via a Paul Scholes goal.[146] In the fin
al, which took place on 21 May against league rivals Chelsea, Ronaldo scored the
opening goal after 26 minutes, which was negated by a Chelsea equaliser in the
45th minute as the match ended 11 after extra time. His penalty was saved in the
shoot-out which put Chelsea in position to win the trophy,[147] but Chelsea capt
ain John Terry shot wide right after slipping on the pitch surface, and Manchest
er United emerged victorious 65 on penalties.[148][149] Ronaldo was named the UEF
A Fans' Man of the Match,[150]
Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and gre
at players in the history of United.

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff on the 23-year-old Ronaldo, April 2008.[151]

After scoring 31 league goals, he was awarded with the Premier League Golden Boo
t and the Premier League Player of the Season awards,[152] and again won the PFA
Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards, as well as b
eing named in the PFA Team of the Year for a third consecutive year.[153][154]
Ronaldo finished the season with a career-high 42 goals in all competitions, fou
r short of Denis Law's team-record mark of 46 in the 196364 season. The top score
r in the Champions League, Ronaldo was named best forward and player of the tour
nament.[155] Ronaldo's 31 goal haul was rewarded with his becoming the first win
ger to win the 200708 European Golden Shoe, finishing eight points ahead of Mallo
rca's Dani Giza.[156]
200809 season
Ronaldo and Manchester United against Albert Riera and rivals Liverpool
In May, Manchester United chief executive David Gill and manager Alex Ferguson b
oth stated that Ronaldo would stay at the club,[157] while David Beckham said: "
I believe he's at the right club now, a club he should stay at".[158] However, o
n 5 June, Sky Sports reported that Ronaldo had expressed an interest in moving t
o Real Madrid if they offered him the same amount of money the team had allegedl
y promised him earlier in the year.[159][160] Manchester United filed a tamperin
g complaint with FIFA on 9 June over Madrid's alleged pursuit of Ronaldo, but FI
FA declined to take any action.[161][162]
In July, FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed that Ronaldo should be allowed to l
eave, saying: "If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution shoul
d be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to p
lay then it's not good for the player and for the club", and described the situa
tion as "modern slavery",[163] comments Ronaldo agreed with.[164][165] The comme
nts annoyed United manager Alex Ferguson, who said "I do not want to dignify thi
s kind of statement with a response but when you consider the history of slavery
, it was a very unfortunate statement".[166] Speculation that a transfer would h
appen continued until 6 August, when Ronaldo confirmed that he would stay at Uni
ted for at least another year, stating: "I will play for Manchester with all my
heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and
dedication as always".[167][168][169] When rumours surfaced again in December ab
out a move to Real Madrid, Ferguson quipped: "Do you think I would enter into a
contract with that mob? Absolutely no chance. I would not sell them a virus".[17
0][171]
Prior to the new season, Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery in Amsterdam on 7 July,
[172] ruling him out for up to three months.[173] He returned to action earlier
than expected on 17 September in United's goalless UEFA Champions League group s
tage draw with Villarreal as a substitute for Park Ji-Sung,[174] and scored his
first goal of the season in a 31 League Cup third round win over Middlesbrough on
23 September.[175]
On 29 October, Ronaldo began to show similar form to the previous season when he
scored both goals in a 20 victory against West Ham,[176] and scored two goals th
ree days later against Hull City in a 43 win.[177] He again scored a brace in a 50
win over Stoke City on 15 November 2008, with the goals being his 100th and 101
st goals in all competitions for Manchester United, both coming from direct free
kicks.[178] The goals also meant that Ronaldo had now scored against each of th
e other 19 teams in the Premier League at the time.[179] On 30 November, he rece
ived the third red card of his career when he was sent off for a second bookable
offence against Manchester City for handball.[180]
All these great players over the years, the Maradonas, Cruyffs, Pels - they all t
ook a kick. It didn't deter them at all. I remember wee Jimmy Johnstone at Celti
c: he'd go straight at the defender who'd just fouled him to let him know he wou
ldn't be bullied. Cristiano has a similar thing. He had an operation in the summ
er, which was the result of consistent tackling on him, but he's naturally brave
. I don't think it ever stopped Maradona, I don't think it stopped Pele. If you'
re them, you don't think of that when you have a ball at your feet, because that
's what you want. It won't stop Cristiano and that's not getting recognised. He'
s always wanting to do something with the ball, yet the fans chant, 'Cheat!' Wel
l, who is the cheat? Who's cheating football? Not Cristiano.

Alex Ferguson.[181]
On 2 December, Ronaldo became Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or recipient si
nce George Best in 1968. He finished with 446 points, 165 ahead of runner-up Lio
nel Messi,[182] and said that it was "one of the most beautiful days of my life"
.[183] On 18 December, he scored in the 53 semi-final victory over Gamba Osaka in
the Club World Cup,[184] and, after assisting the winning goal as United beat L
DU Quito 10 in the final.[185] was awarded the Silver Ball, an award given to the
second best player in the tournament, finishing runner-up to Wayne Rooney.[186]
On 12 January, he became the first Premier League player ever to be named the F
IFA World Player of the Year, in addition to being the first Portuguese player t
o win the award since Lus Figo in 2001.[187]
On 27 January, Ronaldo scored two goals in a 50 win against West Bromwich Albion,
[188] before scoring a penalty in a 10 win against Everton four days later.[189]
He again scored the winning goal, this time against Blackburn Rovers on 21 Febru
ary with a free-kick which helped put United eight points clear at the top of th
e table.[190] On 5 April, Ronaldo scored another two goals against Aston Villa,
but was overshadowed by debutant Federico Macheda, who scored a last minute winn
er to put United top of the league following consecutive defeats to Liverpool an
d Fulham.[191] Another brace came on 25 April, as United came from 20 down at hal
f-time to beat Tottenham Hotspur 52, with Ronaldo scoring the first from the pena
lty spot, as well as the crucial third goal.[192] On 10 May, he scored his final
ever goal for United in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford with a free-kick w
hich put United 10 up.[193]
On 11 March, Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal of the season, and f
irst since the final against Chelsea, in a 20 victory over Inter Milan that sent
United into the quarter-finals.[194] In the second leg against Porto on 15 April
, Ronaldo scored a 40-yard game-winning goal as United advanced to the semi-fina
ls. For this goal, Ronaldo holds the distinction of being the first player to wi
n the FIFA Pusks Award, in 2009, an honour handed by FIFA to the best goal of the
year.[195] He later called it the best goal he had ever scored.[196][197] In th
e semi-final second leg, Ronaldo scored two against Arsenal including a free-kic
k from 39.1 yards as United advanced to the Champions League final,[198] where h
e made little impact in United's 20 loss to Barcelona.[199][200] He finished with
53 appearances in all competitions, which was four higher than the previous yea
r, but scored sixteen fewer goals (26) than his career-best total of 42 from the
previous season. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for a fourth con
secutive year.[201]
On 11 June, Manchester United accepted an unconditional offer of 80 million from
Real Madrid for Ronaldo after it was revealed that he again had expressed his de
sire to leave the club.[202] It was confirmed by a representative of the Glazer
family that the sale was fully condoned by Ferguson.[203] When Ronaldo had event
ually completed his transfer to Real, he expressed his gratitude towards Ferguso
n for helping him develop as a player, saying, "He's been my father in sport, on
e of the most important factors and most influential in my career".[204]