Cristiano Ronaldo (1985–)

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal , Madeira, Portugal a small island off the western coast of the country. Ronaldo is the youngest of four children born to Maria Dolores dos Santos and Jose Dinis Aveiro. He was named after Ronald Reagan, one of his father's favorite actors. Ronaldo grew up in a largely working class neighborhood in a small tin­roofed home. His life was full of hardship. Father was a gardener, who often drank too much, Ronaldo's mother worked as a cook and cleaning person.

It was through his dad's work as an equipment manager at a boy's club that Ronaldo was first introduced to the game of soccer. By the time he was 10 years old, he was already recognized as a phenomenon—a kid who ate, slept and drank the game. "All he wanted to do as a boy was play football," his godfather, Fernao Sousa, recalled for British reporters, adding, "He loved the game so much he'd miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework."

By his early teens, Ronaldo's talent and legend had grown considerably. In 2001, at the age of his 16 he signed with Sporting Portugal. Then Ronaldo  turned heads with a mesmerizing performance against Manchester United, wowing even his opponents with his footwork and skills. That game had made such an impression on other that other team asked their manager to try and sign new young player. It was long before the club paid Ronaldo's team more than £12 million for his services which itself is a record for a person of his age.

Ronaldo did not disappoint the soccer world. He showed his promise early on in the 2004 Foootball Association Challenge Cup final, scoring the team first three goals and helping them capture the championship. Then in 2008, he again sign up for £31 million contract, and maintain a record for goal scored about 42, and earn himself the FIFA World of the Year honor. The time in England was not so good, his mother was diagnose with brest cancer in 2007 and father died from alcohol related illness. He often pushed for his father to enter rehab and address his drinking. But his father never accepted the it.

 Comming to game, as long as Ronaldo was on the field for Manchester United, his commitment to the club came under constant question. Speculation swirled that he wanted to play elsewhere. So in year 2009, when Spanish soccer club Real Madrid agreed to pay United a record of $131 million contract ro sign him. Every body was surprised to see Ronaldo leave United. "I know that they  are going to demand a lot of me to be successful at the club and I know that I'm going to have much more pressure than at Manchester United because I was there for many years," said Ronaldo to reporters.  "But it means a new challenge and is going to help me be the best footballer."

In addition to his FIFA World Player of the year award, Ronaldo has also won the coveted Ballon d'OR, the Golden Boot, and been named the UEFA Club Forward of the Year, among other honors during the course of his career. On July 10, 2016, Ronaldo added another emotional victory to his an acknowledgement of merit, leading Portugal to the European Championship final against France as his national team's captain. Although he was sidelined after suffering a knee injury 25 minutes into the match, Portugal went on to win the championship title 1­0, their first international trophy. Ronaldo's teammates said that he motivated them as team captain from the sidelines. "He gave us a lot of confidence and he said, 'Listen people, I'm sure we will win this Euro so stay together and fight for it,’” full­back Cedric Soares said after Portugal’s victory. 

reference-biography.com