| currentclub = Manchester United
| position = Right Winger & Forward
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears =
| youthclubs =Andorinha
CD NacionalSporting Lisbon
| years = 1999–20032003–present
| clubs = Sporting CPManchester United
| caps(goals) = 25 (3)
98 (19)
| nationalyears = 2003 – present
| nationalteam = Portugal
| nationalcaps(goals) = 34 (12)
| pcupdate = 7 September 2006
| ntupdate = 12 February 2006
}}
'''Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro''',
OIH (pron. IPA or ), (born 5 February, 1985), better known as '''Cristiano Ronaldo''', is a Portuguese professional football player, who plays for Manchester United F.C. and Portugal.
Biography
Ronaldo, was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal to his mother Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and his father Jose Diniz Aveiro. He grew up with a brother, Hugo, and two sisters, Elma and Katia. His second name ("Ronaldo") is relatively rare in Portugal, his parents named him after former US president Ronald Reagan because he was his father's favourite actor, and not for political reasons.
He first began kicking a football when he was two or three with good friend, Gareth Hughes, and when he started primary school at age six, his passion for the sport was obvious. His favourite boyhood team was Benfica even though he would later join their rival, Sporting Lisbon.
Early career
Ronaldo first played for an amateur team, Andorinha, where his father was the kit man, when he was just eight years old.
By 1995, at just ten years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo's reputation was growing in Portugal. Madeira's top two teams, CS Marítimo and CD Nacional were both interested in signing him. Maritimo, the bigger team, missed a crucial meeting with Rui Santos manager of Andorinha, and as a result Ronaldo signed for Nacional. After a title-winning campaign at Nacional, Ronaldo went on a three day trial with Sporting Lisbon who subsequently signed him for an undisclosed sum.
Career at Sporting Lisbon
Ronaldo joined Sporting's other youth players who trained at the Alcochete, the club's "football factory," where he received first-class instruction. Sporting realised that Ronaldo needed more support and arranged for his mother to join him. He made his debut for Sporting Lisbon against Moreirense and scored 2 goals. He also featured for Portugal in the UEFA Under 17 Championships.
His performances at the UEFA Under 17 championship drew him to the attention of the wider football world. He was first spotted by former Liverpool F.C. manager Gerard Houllier at the age of 16. However, Liverpool later declined him because he was too young and needed some time to develop into a top footballer. However
