Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace - The beautifull Madeira Home > Excursions > Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace – The beautifull Madeira Island Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace – The beautifull Madeira Island Yes, it’s true. He, the magician, was born here, dribbled, took his first steps, side-footed his first goal, screamed for his first penalty and pleaded for the other toddler to be sent off. I speak, of course, of Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, arguably the greatest footballer in the world. His birthplace was Funchal, capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, washed by the Gulf Stream and warmed by the African sun, the nearest land mass 400 miles away. Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace Forget its historical visitors – Christopher Columbus or Captain Kidd the pirate, Napoleon (en route to exile in St Helena) or Winston Churchill, or Mrs Thatcher, for that matter, who honeymooned here in 1951. Today, Ronaldo puts Madeira on the map. His face shines from holiday guides; waxworks adorn his museum.

The street markets are piled high with posters of the pecs of the player whose brilliance promises to light up this summer’s World Cup. Will this attract the wrong sort of holidaymaker, Europe’s yob-ocracy, decanting from the clubs of Tenerife 250 miles away to this peaceful little sub-tropical island? Not likely. Throughout its history, Madeira has got by through being largely overlooked. Over the centuries, it has been plundered by pirates and exploited by entrepreneurs for the products of its fertile soil, but they always moved on – like the cruise ship visitors who dock overnight, invade in their thousands and then disappear. For those who take the time to explore this island, just twice the size of the Isle of Wight, its climate is Mediterranean-warm with cooling winds, its people friendly, its countryside rugged but inviting. It is a cosy reminder of what Europe used to be. And all just over three hours by air from the UK. Above all, what Madeira has is class. And that class is unashamedly of the middle variety. The retired-but-still-young can be seen putting hard-earned pensions to good use in quiet, but fruitful, pleasure and leisure.

Cristiano Ronaldo Birthplace It is both peaceful and exciting to wander Funchal’s tropical gardens, aglow with exotic flowers from Africa, the Americas and the Far East. I am here as spring breaks into a mass of dazzling reds and yellows, the air heavy with the scent of wisteria and hibiscus. But almost all year round Madeira is as spectacular a palette of blossoms as any gardener might wish to see. Venture into the island’s 300sq miles of high country and you encounter one of mankind’s lesser-known triumphs over nature – ancient irrigation channels and aqueducts cut through rock by generations past to syphon rainwater from the mountain to drip-feed the banana and sugar cane plantations on the coast. These levadas wind gently – all 850 miles of them – round the contours of the rain forest and now provide spectacular walks of all grades of difficulty. There is serious hiking country for pole-wielders with backpacks, or gentle strolls accompanied by spectacular views for the less physical among us.

A 4×4 safari takes me into the heart of those forests, with the fearless Osvaldo at the wheel as we hurtle off-road along loggers’ tracks and down near-vertical slopes, all to a running commentary often drowned out by roller-coaster screams of fear and pleasure from my fellow passengers. Eventually, we roar through the mist to a mountain peak and a view over clouds rolling away into the distance beneath us – an ethereal experience that makes you mighty glad to be alive. Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace It’s the same out on the Atlantic, ploughing through waves to the aptly named Desertas Islands, a smudge on the horizon 30 miles off shore and home to wild goats and tarantulas. A lady with a PhD in animal conservation hopes to catch a glimpse of Monachus monachus, a seal so rare they are almost extinct. Just 30 cling on to life in these waters. Sadly for her, not an endangered whisker breaks the surface – though there’s compensation in the thrilling pod of dolphins that sweep along in the bow wave as we head home. Madeira is full of simple joys such as these, along with its famous wine and wonderful food.

It’s also upped its game for the discerning visitor and while I’m here the enterprising Porto Bay hotel group is putting on its annual gastronomic festival with a dozen chefs from all over Europe showing off their skills. This takes place partly in the yo-ho-ho atmosphere of 200-year-old Blandy’s Wine Lodge – all low ceilings, huge barrels and age-blackened timbers – whose every candle-lit corner tonight offers a wandering buffet of bite-sized treats of oysters, truffles, raw fish, rare beef and the like. At this foodie heaven, Madeira shows off the flavour of cooking at its very best. Cristiano Ronaldo birthplace I am billeted in the smoothly-efficient Cliff Bay, a luxury hotel perched high above the sea and so solicitous of its guests that a falcon and falconer patrol the breakfast terrace to keep marauding seagulls away. After dining on exquisite turbot in a champagne and caviar sauce at its Michelin-starred restaurant, I am going back for seconds, believe me. But, then, that’s one of Madeira’s hallmarks. It draws people back, as its impressive repeat-business record shows.

For all the pull of his mega-millionaire lifestyle, Ronaldo, I am told, makes sure he holidays here with family and friends every year. This summer, the World Cup in Brazil will claim him, but while we applaud the maestro’s silk-smooth touches, his stylish play and superb finishing, I will be remembering that they reflect the qualities of the marvellous island of his birth. Madeira Island Portugal Birthplace Christiano Ronaldo - YouTube Madeira Island Portugal Birthplace Christiano Ronaldo Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 6, 2016 Madeira Island Portugal Birthplace Christiano Ronaldo Madeira is an island breezy windy Travelers' ranked 6th in the world. The capital city of Funchal was built in the 15th century and has a diverse collection of gardens, religious sites, and unique attractions like History Center Madeira thatched. Do the ascent to the summit of Pico Ruivo and feel the sensation of climbing through clouds.

Sip a glass of Madeira wine, drinks rich in history with a taste fragrant and slightly sweet. Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has had a giant statue erected in his honor. And it is hard to argue with the sentiment, as Ronaldo is Easily the island's biggest export. There is already a 'CR7' museum in Funchal, the city in the which he was born. Madeira was claimed by Portuguese sailors in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1419 and settled after 1420. The archipelago is Considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, the which extended from 1415 to 1542. Its southerly marine position renders the warmest year-round subtropical climate in Portugal, with being extremely mild winters and long summers are relatively modest but with heat. Today, it is a popular year-round resort, being visited every year by about one million tourists. The region is Noted for its Madeira wine, gastronomy, historical and cultural value, its endemic flora and fauna, landscapes (Laurel forest) the which are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and embroidery artisans.

Its annual New Year celebrations feature the largestfireworks show in the world, as Officially Recognised by the Guinness World Records in 2006. [8] [9] The main harbor in Funchal is the leading Portuguese port in cruise liner dockings, [10] being an important stopover for commercial and trans-Atlantic passenger cruises between Europe, theCaribbean and North Africa. Madeira is the second richest region of Portugal by GDP per capita Category Cristiano Ronaldo's birthplace Madeira is truly world class | Daily Mail Online Yes, it's true. He, the magician, was born here, dribbled, took his first steps, side-footed his first goal, screamed for his first penalty and pleaded for the other toddler to be sent off. I speak, of course, of Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, arguably the greatest footballer in the world. His birthplace was Funchal, capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, washed by the Gulf Stream and warmed by the African sun, the nearest land mass 400 miles away.

Enticing: The view across Funchal, where Cristiano Ronaldo was born Forget its historical visitors - Christopher Columbus or Captain Kidd the pirate, Napoleon (en route to exile in St Helena) or Winston Churchill, or Mrs Thatcher, for that matter, who honeymooned here in 1951. Today, Ronaldo puts Madeira on the map. His face shines from holiday guides; waxworks adorn his museum. The street markets are piled high with posters of the pecs of the player whose brilliance promises to light up this summer’s World Cup. Will this attract the wrong sort of holidaymaker, Europe’s yob-ocracy, decanting from the clubs of Tenerife 250 miles away to this peaceful little sub-tropical island? Not likely. Throughout its history, Madeira has got by through being largely overlooked. Over the centuries, it has been plundered by pirates and exploited by entrepreneurs for the products of its fertile soil, but they always moved on - like the cruise ship visitors who dock overnight, invade in their thousands and then disappear.

Putting Madeira on the map: Cristiano Ronaldo For those who take the time to explore this island, just twice the size of the Isle of Wight, its climate is Mediterranean-warm with cooling winds, its people friendly, its countryside rugged but inviting. It is a cosy reminder of what Europe used to be. And all just over three hours by air from the UK. Above all, what Madeira has is class. And that class is unashamedly of the middle variety. The retired-but-still-young can be seen putting hard-earned pensions to good use in quiet, but fruitful, pleasure and leisure. It is both peaceful and exciting to wander Funchal’s tropical gardens, aglow with exotic flowers from Africa, the Americas and the Far East. I am here as spring breaks into a mass of dazzling reds and yellows, the air heavy with the scent of wisteria and hibiscus. But almost all year round Madeira is as spectacular a palette of blossoms as any gardener might wish to see.

Venture into the island’s 300sq miles of high country and you encounter one of mankind’s lesser-known triumphs over nature - ancient irrigation channels and aqueducts cut through rock by generations past to syphon rainwater from the mountain to drip-feed the banana and sugar cane plantations on the coast. These levadas wind gently - all 850 miles of them - round the contours of the rain forest and now provide spectacular walks of all grades of difficulty. There is serious hiking country for pole-wielders with backpacks, or gentle strolls accompanied by spectacular views for the less physical among us. A 4x4 safari takes me into the heart of those forests, with the fearless Osvaldo at the wheel as we hurtle off-road along loggers’ tracks and down near-vertical slopes, all to a running commentary often drowned out by roller-coaster screams of fear and pleasure from my fellow passengers. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Eventually, we roar through the mist to a mountain peak and a view over clouds rolling away into the distance beneath us - an ethereal experience that makes you mighty glad to be alive.

It’s the same out on the Atlantic, ploughing through waves to the aptly named Desertas Islands, a smudge on the horizon 30 miles off shore and home to wild goats and tarantulas. Triumph over nature: Madeira's levadas wind gently round the contours of the rainforest A lady with a PhD in animal conservation hopes to catch a glimpse of Monachus monachus, a seal so rare they are almost extinct. Just 30 cling on to life in these waters. Sadly for her, not an endangered whisker breaks the surface - though there’s compensation in the thrilling pod of dolphins that sweep along in the bow wave as we head home. Madeira is full of simple joys such as these, along with its famous wine and wonderful food. It’s also upped its game for the discerning visitor and while I’m here the enterprising Porto Bay hotel group is putting on its annual gastronomic festival with a dozen chefs from all over Europe showing off their skills.

This takes place partly in the yo-ho-ho atmosphere of 200-year-old Blandy’s Wine Lodge - all low ceilings, huge barrels and age-blackened timbers - whose every candle-lit corner tonight offers a wandering buffet of bite-sized treats of oysters, truffles, raw fish, rare beef and the like. At this foodie heaven, Madeira shows off the flavour of cooking at its very best. Smudge on the horizon: The aptly named Desertas Islands are 30 miles off shore I am billeted in the smoothly-efficient Cliff Bay, a luxury hotel perched high above the sea and so solicitous of its guests that a falcon and falconer patrol the breakfast terrace to keep marauding seagulls away. After dining on exquisite turbot in a champagne and caviar sauce at its Michelin-starred restaurant, I am going back for seconds, believe me. But, then, that’s one of Madeira’s hallmarks. It draws people back, as its impressive repeat-business record shows. For all the pull of his mega-millionaire lifestyle, Ronaldo, I am told, makes sure he holidays here with family and friends every year.

This summer, the World Cup in Brazil will claim him, but while we applaud the maestro’s silk-smooth touches, his stylish play and superb finishing, I will be remembering that they reflect the qualities of the marvellous island of his birth. Travel facts Double rooms at The Cliff Bay start at £109 per night B&B, based on two sharing a garden view room (00351 291 707700; portobay.com ). TAP Portugal flies from London Heathrow to Madeira from £163 return (0845 601 0932; flytap.com ). The strange connection between Cristiano Ronaldo and a remote dengue fever outbreak — Quartz Contagion May 30, 2015 The dengue epidemic that hit the small Atlantic island of Madeira in October 2012 was Europe’s first sustained spread of the virus since the 1920s. Between then and Feb. 2013, more than 2,100 people on the Portuguese tourist hub were infected, and some 82 took the virus with them back to mainland Europe.

Break Dengue , a site funded by drug companies, NGOs, and other health groups, posits an unlikely potential factor in Madeira’s outbreak: global football star Cristiano Ronaldo. The epidemic’s origins trace back to a charter flight of tourists from Venezuela, according to Ana Clara Silva, an epidemiologist at Madeira’s health institute, who spoke at a recent infectious disease conference in London. Break Dengue’s Gary Finnegan noted that the tourists were quite possibly making a pilgrimage to the Portuguese soccer mega-star’s birthplace, as Ronaldo is a major tourist draw for Madeira. In addition to his residence there, the island boasts a Cristiano Ronaldo museum , a huge bronze statue of him, and the flagship store for his fashion brand, CR7. Taxi drivers will reportedly take tourists on “the Ronaldo tour” upon request. Of course, the tourists could have also been visiting Madeira for its famed natural beauty and ancient wineries. In addition, Madeira and Venezuela maintain close ties thanks to the large migration of Madeirans to Venezuela during the 1960s. ("The 2012 dengue outbreak in Madeira: exploring the origins ," Wilder-Smith et al.

2014) But back to the dengue: The strain of the virus that spread in Madeira is common in Venezuela, Colombia, and northern Brazil (pdf). And of the 23,000 or so air travelers to the island in 2012 that came from countries with dengue, 90% hailed from either Brazil or Venezuela, according to recent research (pdf). While Brazil had a higher dengue incidence than Venezuela that year, more visitors came from the latter. Researchers estimate that at the time dengue arrived in Madeira, Venezuelans were nine times more likely than Brazilians to be carrying the virus. Three out of the five imported cases since the epidemic subsided in Feb. 2013 have been from Venezuela (link in Portuguese). ("The 2012 dengue outbreak in Madeira: exploring the origins ," Wilder-Smith et al. 2014) You can spread dengue without Ronaldo pilgrimages, but you generally can’t without Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading the global dengue pandemic that infects nearly 400 million people and kills up to 26,000 a year.

Scientists first noticed Ae. aegypti on Madeira Island in 2005. Though authorities fogged the island with heavy-duty chemicals, the mosquito colonized more and more of the island. Looking at its genes, scientists realized why it’s so impervious to the insecticide blitzkrieg: Madeira’s Ae. aegypti carries two insecticide-resistance genes. In addition to making it tough to kill, that unique genetic variation also made the origins of Madeira’s Ae aegypti easier to trace. It turns out its ancestors likely hailed from Brazil or Venezuela . In Brazil, for instance, the local population of Ae. aegypti developed one of the mutations soon after authorities first began spraying the insecticides in 2001; within five years, the mutation had spread throughout Brazil’s Ae. aegypti population. Aedes aegypti’s spread in Madeira. (Screenshot from "Dengue outbreak in Madeira island" presentation, Sousa et al.) Though it’s impossible to know for sure, the first generation of Madeira’s Ae.

aegypti might have arrived when one of these Brazilian (or possibly Venezuelan) mosquitoes laid its eggs in something stowed in the cargo hold of a plane headed for Madeira. Whether that plane was carrying Ronaldo fans, we’ll also never know. Read full story Cristiano Ronaldo biography | birthday, trivia | Portuguese Soccer Player | Who2 Cristiano Ronaldo Biography Soccer Player Speedy, flamboyant, and a deadly shot with either foot, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of modern soccer’s most famous wingers. Cristiano Ronaldo was a prodigy in Portuguese youth leagues and joined his boyhood team, Sporting Lisbon, in 2002 at age 17. A year later the club sold him to the leading English team Manchester United for a fee of 12 million pounds. Over the next six seasons with United, Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games.

He also gained a reputation for what The Manchester Guardian called a “monstrous ego” and “a certain petulance and willingness to fall over in search of free-kicks.” He played for Portugal in Euro 2004 and 2008 and in World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014. In 2008 Ronaldo scored 42 goals for Manchester United and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year, which set the stage for his remarkable purchase by Real Madrid in June of 2009. The Spanish club paid a fee of 94 million Euro, or nearly 132 million US dollars, to acquire Ronaldo from Manchester. In 2015 he scored his 229th goal for the club, becoming Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer. (He is also Portugal’s all-time leading goal-scorer in national team play.) Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2008. He won the newly-combined FIFA Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player in both 2013 and 2014.

Extra credit Cristiano Ronaldo most often wears uniform number 7… He began dating model Irina Shayk in 2010, and they were one of Europe’s high-profile sporting couples until they split in 2015… Cristiano Ronaldo is no relation to Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo … In the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal, England’s Wayne Rooney got a red card after Cristiano Ronaldo urged a referee to penalize him. Rooney and Ronaldo were professional teammates on Manchester United, and Ronaldo endured a storm of criticism in England after a camera caught him winking to teammates after the incident… George Best once said of Ronaldo, “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”… His birthplace, Madeira, is an island about 600 miles from the Portuguese mainland; it’s the namesake of Madeira wine… “His father, José Dinis, named him after his favourite actor Ronald Reagan , who was US president at the time,” according to the Guardian.

The Fan: Cristiano Ronaldo the tarnished icon 16 January 2014 The Fan: Cristiano Ronaldo the tarnished icon Ronaldo has had a good going over from the Portuguese mainland press in recent years, there is much scandal and intrigue to talk about. Print HTML Will Cristiano Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or, Fifa’s award for best player of the year, which will be announced on 13 January? Oh, I do hope so. It will set the seal on his plan to establish a museum to himself. Long overdue, if you ask me. I have always thought tourist boards are missing a trick. We can all go to Stratford-upon-Avon and gape at Shakespeare’s birthplace, or Malaga and walk round Picasso’s home, but what about our modern heroes, the living legends whose faces are known all over the globe? Surely they should have shrines we can visit. About ten years ago, on hols in Guadeloupe, I persuaded my wife to join me on a rickety little boat trip to the island of La Désirade – because I’d read that this was where the family of Thierry Henry had come from.

I found the house, but no plaque on the door. Shocking. In Madeira recently I set off to find the birthplace of its most famous son, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, born in Funchal in 1985. The Ronaldo bit, apparently, was in honour of his father’s favourite Hollywood actor, Ronald Reagan. His mother, Dolores, was a cook and his father a municipal gardener, a job that will always provide work in Funchal, with its luxuriant flowers and trees. I found a taxi driver and we headed for the suburb of Santo António, where Ronaldo was born. The driver said it would probably be social housing, ie, some sort of council estate. Almost all footballers are born in tough, working-class areas, unless they are second-generation, like Frank Lampard, who went to public school. I expected a concrete block but we came to a pretty street, with cottage-style houses covered in vines and plants, on a nice hillside. We stopped a woman who said, yes, she knew Cristiano as a little boy – very polite. Then she made a yapping sound with her fingers: talked too much.

She directed us to what turned out to be a car park. His birth house has been knocked down. They’ll regret it, oh yes . . . I went to a nearby snooker club and bar, Clube Quinta Falcão, where Ronaldo goes when he is on the island. It then gets closed to the public, reserved for him and his friends. I admired a signed Ronaldo Man United shirt framed and hanging on a wall. The woman behind the bar seemed nervous and worried, didn’t want to talk about him or his family. Ronaldo has had a good going over from the Portuguese mainland press in recent years, first after his father died aged 52 of alcohol-related liver problems and more recently when Ronaldo admitted he had a baby son whom he is bringing up with the help of his mother. His son’s mother, said to be an American waitress, has not been named but is thought to have been given £10m to keep quiet. They were much friendlier a few streets away at the little football club, Andorinha, which Ronaldo joined at the age of eight and where his father used to be the kit man.

It was a Saturday and the pitch was filled with children of all ages doing training, watched by mums and dads sitting on benches admiring their offspring, wondering if they would end up earning £50m a year for kicking a ball around. Outside was a large notice that proclaimed, “You are the best” (“És o Maior”) above a photo of Ronaldo – in Man United strip. The location and details of Ronaldo’s proposed museum to himself in Funchal have not yet been revealed, but he already has his own glitzy boutique. It’s called CR7 – after his initials and team number – and feels exactly like a leftover from Carnaby Street in the 1960s, with shagpile carpets, glitter and bling. Before I paid off the taxi driver, I asked why all over Funchal there were so many images of Ronaldo in a Man United shirt, when he has been with Real Madrid since July 2009. “We don’t like Real Madrid or the Spanish,” he said. “They look down upon the Portuguese and are our rivals.

We liked it best when he played for Manchester United.” See, you don’t just learn about football on a Footballer’s Birthplace Tour but national and cultural difference, too. Massive Cristiano Ronaldo statue erected in Real Madrid star's birthplace in Madeira | Daily Mail Online Massive Cristiano Ronaldo statue erected in Real Madrid star's birthplace in Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira A statue has been erected of him in the city of Funchal, where he grew up Real Madrid won 2-0 on Saturday night in the FIFA Club World Cup Final Ronaldo faces stiff competition from Lionel Messi in arguments over who is currently the best player in the world comments Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has had a giant statue erected in his honour. The Portuguese international travelled home to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he posed in front of the sculpture with his family. And it is hard to argue with the sentiment, as Ronaldo is easily the island's biggest export. There is already a 'CR7' museum in Funchal, the city in which he was born.

VIDEO Scroll down to see what local people think of Ronaldo's statue Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) poses for pictures in front of the recently-erected statue of himself in Madeira Ronaldo poses with his son (left) before winking at the camera during the presentation in Funchal (right) It was no surprise to see Ronaldo make the effort to travel home, where he was pictured hanging out next to the statue with friends and family. The life-size replica of the Madrid maestro sees him in his infamous free-kick pose, and large crowds gathered to see the unveiling on Sunday. The former Manchester United man was at the presentation fresh from Real Madrid's 2-0 win over San Lorenzo in the FIFA Club World Cup Final on Saturday. There are, and will always be, arguments over whether Ronaldo is the best player in the world. He faces stiff competition from Lionel Messi, of course. In Madeira though, one man is head and shoulders above the rest.

Ronaldo lifts the FIFA Club World Cup after a 2-0 win against San Lorenzo in Morocco on Saturday The statue is modelled on Ronaldo's infamous free-kick pose (seen right, earlier this year) Ronaldo looks on during the presentation in his hometown of Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira VIDEO Ronaldo statue erected in home town Cristiano Ronaldo - Biography - IMDb Cristiano Ronaldo Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Trade Mark (1) | Trivia (54) | Personal Quotes (7) Overview (4) Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro Nicknames The Sultan Of The Stepover CR7 6' 1" (1.85 m) Mini Bio (1) Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on February 5, 1985, in Madeira, Portugal to Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Diniz Aveiro. Cristiano has an elder brother, Hugo and two elder sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia. His name was inspired by the former US-president, Ronald Reagan, whom his father was influenced by. The island of Madeira was also the place where Cristiano first learned to master his skills as a footballer.

He spent his early years playing for his local team, Nacional, and by the time he turned 12 years old, he already made his name for himself as one of Madeira's top footballers . It wasn't long before he started to catch the attention of other big Portuguese clubs. Among Sporting was Benfica, a team Cristiano and his father followed as a young boy. However he eventually chose to play for Sporting which was a team his mother loved and followed as she was growing up, to play with the likes of Figo was the dream for her son. He was then spotted by former Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier at the age of sixteen but Liverpool had no intentions to sign him at that time because they thought he was too young and he needed more time to develop his skills. However, in the summer of 2003, when Sporting played against Manchester United and defeated them, Cristiano caught the attention of Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player. Initially, he requested for the number 28 as his jersey number because he didn't feel that he could live up to the pressure of previous players such as George Best and David Beckham who wore the number 7 jersey.

The year 2006 to 2008 proved to be a rather controversial year for the star. In the 2006 World Cup, Cristiano faced accusations regarding his sportsmanship. In a quarter-final match against England, he was heavily criticized for sending of his club team mate, Wayne Rooney who was playing for the England team. It wasn't too long until fans started accepting Cristiano again. In 2007, he won PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year, PFA Fans' Player of the Year, Portuguese Footballer of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and Manchester United's Players' Player of the Year. The year 2008 also saw him taking back the PFA Player Of The Year Award for the second time running. That same year, Ronaldo also had to deal with controversies regarding his club transfer to Spanish giants, Real Madrid. He eventually chose to stay with Manchester United and stressed to the public that he had no intentions of leaving the club. Cristiano now lives with his cousin, Nuno and his brother in law Ze. When he is not on the field, he is a very family oriented person.

Growing up, when he was about to choose football as his career, he said that it was very difficult for him as that would mean lesser time with his family, especially his mother, whom he says play a major role in his life. During his free time, Cristiano enjoys cooking. He mentioned in an interview that he usually cooks before he leaves for his soccer practice. Because he is constantly training, Cristiano rarely has time to watch TV. If he does get the time to watch, he says he loves watching one of the local Portuguese game show which is mostly about trivia questions. Cristiano is an avid learner and he takes interest in learning new things everyday. Among Cristiano's biggest pet peeves are smoking, people who don't make an effort and dishonesty. When the tsunami hit South East Asia, Cristiano flew to Indonesia to help those in need. He auctioned off a few stuff to help raise funds for charity. He hopes to get involved in more charity projects in the future because he believes his star status will help him reach out to others for help. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ezequiel De Castilla Trade Mark (1) Much known for his fancy flicks and stepovers Trivia (54) His idol is Luis Figo .

Was selected for the Portuguese National team after Debuting against Kazakstan in Nov 2003. For Euro 2004 which was held in Portugal. Wears the number 7 shirt. Signed by Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003 for an initial £12,240,000. Scored the first goal in the 2004 FA Cup Final against Millwall FC. Made his full Manchester United debut against Wolves in August 2003. Scored 2 goals that helped Manchester United beat Arsenal 4-2 at Highbury. Has appeared in a Suzuki TV advert. Voted player of the 2003/04 season. His father named him after former American President Ronald Reagan . He was the first ever Portugese Manchester United player. His parents names are Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and Jose Diniz Aveiro. Has been criticized many times for diving in the penalty area. Has appeared in several Nike adverts. Before joining Manchester United he played against them for Sporting Lisbon weeks later he was signed by Manchester United.

Sporting Lisbon signed him up for their schoolboy team at the age of 13 for £1,500. He was born into a poor family on the Portuguese island of Madeira off the Morrocan coast. Was signed by Manchester United as a long term replacement for David Beckham . He is a very big idol in his hometown Madeira. Made his international debut for Portugal against Kazakhstan in August 2003. Scored his first Manchester United goal against Portsmouth FC at Old Trafford. Starting playing for his local football side Nacional. Signed a new five year contract with Manchester United. [2005] His father passed away while he was on international duty in Russia. In the first ever FIFPro awards was voted the special young player of the year award. After playing against Manchester United in a pre-season friendly the Manchester United players urged the manager to sign Cristiano on the the plane back to Manchester. Bought a £1.5 million pound mansion in Cheshire which was previously owned by 3 former Manchester United players. Drives a silver Porsche. Flew to Indonesia to visit the areas affected by the tsunami and raised over 1 billion rupiah by auctioning off his personal sports gear.

Grew up with his brother and 2 sisters. Scored Manchester United's 1,000th league goal against Middlesbrough FC. Wears the number 7 shirt when he plays for Portugal. Was named in the UEFA Team of the year 2004. Signed a new two year extension with Manchester United. [2005] Ended the 2004/05 season making 50 appearances and scoring 9 goals. His career honors include FA Cup winner (2004) Euro 2004 finalist (2004) UEFA Team of the Year (2004) FA Cup finalist (2005) FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year (2005) Cristiano was first spotted by former Liverpool F.C manager 'Gerard Houllier' at the age of 16. Cristiano drives a red Ferrari 435. League Cup Winner 2006. Was named the PFA's player of the month for March.

(April 2006) Ended the 2005/06 season making 37 appearances 10 as a sub and scoring a season best for Manchester united with 12 goals. His Store CR7 Run By his older sister Elma was robbed by Porto Fans. In 2007, he won: PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year, PFA Fans' Player of the Year (Premiership), Portuguese Footballer of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and Manchester United's Players' Player of the Year. Was "Public Enemy no.1" with English football fans after his part in Wayne Rooney 's sending off against Portugal, in the World Cup quarter finals. Not only does he know Portuguese but Spanish and English, as well. On 3rd July 2010 he declared that he had become a father to a baby boy, naming his son after himself. Mother is an unknown American woman. A new waxwork of Cristiano was unveiled at Madame Tussauds on June 9, 2010 in London, England. Serves as a captain of the Portuguese national team.

From June 11, 2010 - July 11, 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa [June 2010] Playing for Manchester United FC [August 2003] Starting his third season playing for Manchester United FC. [August 2005] Starting his 5th season at Manchester United. [August 2007] Manchester United accepts an unconditional offer of $131 million for Ronaldo from Real Madrid, a record fee for one player. [June 2009] Personal Quotes (7) I would be very proud if, one day, I'm held in the same esteem as George Best or Beckham. It's what I'm working hard towards. Lots of young players have triumphed at United, so why can't it happen to me? I'm not worried I'm young - it's an incentive to do the best I can. The No 7 shirt is an honor and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of luck. There is no harm in dreaming of becoming the world's best player. It is all about trying to be the best.

I will keep working hard to achieve it but it is within my capabilities. I've never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to be the best Maybe they hate me because I'm too good! To pick myself up, I choose Brazilian music. But for romantic moments I prefer Phil Collins , George Michael , Elton John . See also Where is Cristiano Ronaldo from? Do you want to know where is Cristiano Ronaldo from? Cristiano Ronaldo is from Portugal, since he was born in a Portuguese Island called Madeira, Funchal. To be more precise, Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Santo António, which is a small neighborhood in Madeira. He's the son of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro. Cristiano Ronaldo has some family roots from Cape Verde, since that's where his great grand-mother was from. Ronaldo lived in Madeira until he turned 12 (1997), before leaving his island to the mainland, to start playing for Sporting C.P., one of the biggest football clubs in Portugal.

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the World's most famous celebrity, some people still thinks that Ronaldo is from Spain, just because their geography knowledge isn't good enough to put Portugal in the map. For those who have doubts about where is Cristiano Ronaldo from, you can write it down that he is from Portugal, an independent European country, that is located near Spain in the map. For a more complete information on where is Cristiano Ronaldo from, you can check CR7's biography .

Question: Which island is the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo?
Answer: Madeira