CRISTIANO RONALDO'S TEAMS
Cristiano Ronaldo represented Portugal under 17’s at the European Championships in 2002. He also briefly played for the under 18’s and under 21’s before gaining his first full international cap in 2003. Portugal was awarded the European Championships in 2004 and this became the perfect platform for Ronaldo to showcase his talents. Although he still wasn’t a regular in Scolari’s first team, he came off the bench to score Portugal’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Greece in the opening game. Fans began to pressure the manager to start him and they were duly rewarded with some spectacular displays of skill which earned him a place in the team of the tournament.
Unfortunately for Portugal and Ronaldo they lost to Greece 1-0 in the final, a repeat of the opening match. Cristiano commented on how hard it was to lose that game with the weight of expectation of the entire nation on his shoulders. It was an experience that leaves a mark on you life and the tears at the end of the match told everyone how devastated he was.
Portugal went to the World Cup in Germany in 2006 full of hope and aspirations after there Euro 2004 exploits. Ronaldo scored his first goal of the tournament in a 2-0 win against Iran. After winning there group with three wins out of three the press were talking up Portugal’s chances of success. In the last 16 Portugal was drawn against Holland and the match turned into the dirtiest in world cup history which saw a total 16 yellow cards and 4 players sent off. Portugal progressed and was given a quarter final draw against England.
The match ended a draw with Rooney being sent off for stamping and Portugal progressed after winning a penalty shoot out 3-1. This was Portugal’s first world cup semi final for 40 years but that was the end of the road as they lost to France in the semi final 1-0. Thousands of England fans had bought tickets for the semi finals expecting England to be there and a hostile reception was waiting for the Portuguese after Ronaldo winked at the bench when Rooney was sent off.
Portugal progressed through the Euro 2008 qualification finishing second to Poland. Cristiano Ronaldo finished the campaign as the Portuguese leading goal scorer with 8 goals. If Portugal’s past performances are any thing to go they stand a good chance of at least reaching the Semi finals of Euro 2008.
Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Manchester United in 2003 for 12.2 million pounds a record fee for a teenager in Britain. David Beckham had just departed to Real Madrid and Ronaldo was seen as a player who had the potential to step into his old boots. Cristiano was given the famous number 7 shirt previously worn by united legends such as George Best and Eric Cantona.
He made his debut against Bolton at Old Trafford and came off the bench. He took the place by storm with his quick feet and imagination. United fans were lavishing praise on the young Portuguese winger although Fergie initially used him as an impact substitute during games. His quick feet against tiring legs give Manchester United a lift towards the end of matches.
Ronaldo had come along way from his days in Portugal. He was with one of the biggest clubs on the planet and was able to financially take care of his family earning around 220,000 euros per month. His first season in England saw Ronaldo play 40 matches in all competitions scoring 6 goals. The Old Trafford faithful has seen enough to realise they had some player on there hands.
Cristiano’s second season with Man Utd was even better than the first. His performances on the pitch displayed his unquestionable skill with a high level of maturity. Under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson Cristiano was beginning to make headlines. 50 games and 9 goals in all competitions was a big return for a young player at such a big club.
The 2005/06 season started with so much promise but soon turned to despair. At the age of 52 Cristiano Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, died. It was a moment that brought everything Cristiano had achieved crashing back to earth. No amount of money or success could change what happened. Luiz Felipe Scolari broke the news to Ronaldo while away on international duty, he was completely devastated.
Ronaldo’s father had always been proud of him, always boasting to his friends the talent his son possessed. The respect was mutual. Cristiano decided to play for Portugal despite still grieving the loss of his father. Now every celebration includes a prayer to his father.
Cristiano’s game was steadily improving as the season went on. He added a cutting edge to his finishing and stopped the unnecessary step over’s. Ronaldo scored in the 4-0 demolition of Wigan in the Carling Cup final. At the end of a third season that produced a return of 12 goals from 47 matches, Ronaldo had the world at his feet. That was until the World Cup in Germany 2006.
Ronaldo came home from the biggest sporting tournament in the world as public enemy number one. His protest to the referee and infamous wink to the touchline after Rooney was sent off had English fans baying for his blood. The British press slaughtered him and Ronaldo was considering leaving. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson tried sending him text messages but no reply came back. It turned out that Fergie was texting Cristiano’s old phone and finally managed to get in contact with him.
Fergie had already been in this situation with Beckham after he was sent off in a world cup against Argentina and the nation made him the scapegoat for England’s failure in a big tournament. Fergie was determined that nobody would drive Ronaldo out of England and went to work on keeping him here. He convinced Cristiano to do his talking on the pitch and opposition fans and the press will shut up. Real Madrid was reportedly ready to make a world record transfer bid in the region of £54 million to take him to the Bernabeu. But he decided to stay. His first away game for United was at The Valley against Charlton. Every time he touched the ball the crowd booed and whistled but as soon as he struck a sweet shot from outside the area that hit the bar they all went quiet.
Fergie said to Cristiano after the game this is how you stop fans getting on your back, you play well and they will be too scared of what you will do to them. This difficult period in Ronaldo’s career made him psychologically stronger and turned out to be his best year in English football. The 2006/07 season started as public enemy number one and finished as a premiership champion, semi finalist in the champions league and the first player to win all three major awards for player of the season in England.
This season has seen Cristiano Ronaldo be described as the best player in world by many leading figures in football. His ability is unquestioned with a goal scoring ratio that nobody would have predicted at the start of the season. Whether the season will end with any winner’s medals is still to be seen but the form of this young man you wouldn’t bet against it.
