Ronaldo the family man

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December 3, 2008

Posted: 1333 GMT

LONDON, England – People ask me about Cristiano Ronaldo, who this week won European Footballer of the year, all the time. He's Portugese, I'm Portugese, and I have had the pleasure of interviewing him on several occasions.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named European Footballer of the Year.

Unfortunately, in England Ronaldo's image has become tainted because the media magnifies his odd rant or dive on the pitch. But, in my book, he is still a decent young man who has kept his feet on the ground, despite all the fame and fortune he has experienced.

I can tell you, every time I have met the 23-year-old star he has been extremely polite and considerate. Of course he has expensive tastes and splurges unnecessarily on luxury items at times - but then when you earn an estimated $150,000 per week, you are entitled.

Furthermore, he is a young man who prizes his family and has helped them in more ways than one ever since becoming wealthy. He has bought houses for his mother and siblings and has tried to help his sister's singing career.

Ronaldo has also given funds to various charities - so it would be fair to say that however much he earns, he has never forgotten the people closest to him or those less fortunate.

It's probably because he was born into a poor family in the island of Madeira in 1985. From a young age, Cristiano soon exhibited phenomenal talent and moved to Lisbon to play for Sporting's famed academy at the age of 12.

He was teased and often ostracized in the Portugese capital because of his strange accent and skinny frame, but we all know he overcame those insecurities to become the best player on the planet.

Ronaldo was unquestionably the best player in the world during the 2007/08 season and deserved the Ballon d'Or award, much like he deserves the FIFA World Player of the Year award, to be decided later this year. Forty-two goals scored plus many more assists to his colleagues made him the most dangerous player on the planet.

The only blip in his season was Portugal's poor Euro 2008 campaign, where he failed to impress, but it was later revealed that he was playing with an ankle injury.

Of course he does have challengers to his crown: sooner or later Lionel Messi will win football's highest accolades. The young Argentine also has aboundless talent and is reaching his peak.

But for now, Ronaldo is king.

Posted by: CNN Sports Correspondent, Pedro Pinto
Filed under: Football

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Artur

December 4th, 2008 1:12 am ET

Very nice to see an article that actually say good things about Ronaldo.
Everybody know how to blame/judge people... but its hard to see in the media an article like this one. For ALL the money he earns he is a very down to earth guy. If eveytime you see him on the media he is with a different girl...who cares? He is single. Anyway, nice article!!!

Artur – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

hussien ashry

December 5th, 2008 3:02 pm ET

I THINK RONALDO IS THE BEST PLAYER I WATCH IN THE WORLD
H LOVE SO MUCH SEE HIM PLAYFOOTBALL . ITHINK THAT HE WILL
SUCCE WITH PORTUGAL IN THE WORLD CUP 2010.

Dennis

December 18th, 2008 10:29 pm ET

Congrats to Ronaldo and his winning his achievements...

Marko

December 25th, 2008 12:05 pm ET

British media is so mean, they are jealous cause most of their players suck and he's from Portugal. Ronaldo is the best.

Serbia

tsam tsam

January 6th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

let them say wat they say,he is the best we all know

walter Biegon

January 6th, 2009 12:43 pm ET

Ronaldo is the man of the year. He exibited the greatest level of success during the last season. If anything, we should all give this man a standing ovation for his achievements and dazzling pieces of footworks. Bravo Christiano and continue the good work! Manchester United for live!

Walter Biegon_Nairobi_Kenya.

Jorge O.

January 6th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

I don't believe he is the best player in the world!! Great kid, but not the best. I still believe Kaka is the better of the 3 and always will be!!

deepak

January 6th, 2009 3:48 pm ET

wow.. you guys considers ronaldo as down to eath man!!!!
either you must be kidding or u don't watch him in football pitch. every one in this world knows ronaldo is such a arrogont person. he even praises himself..... not only that he is one of the most overrated player in the history of any game.

Frank Aigbe

January 7th, 2009 6:47 am ET

WITOUT BEIN TOLD C.RONALDO IS D BEST PLAYER IN 2007/08 SEASON EVEN DOWN TILL NW IF NT Y DO U TINK HE WON D BALON D'OR.

victor

January 11th, 2009 12:55 pm ET

Impressive on the pitch, but there´s more than a few like him around the globe, even more decisive than him........let´s just not get carried away by all the publicity parapharnelia that surrounds him!!!!

MessiRules

January 12th, 2009 5:15 pm ET

Ronaldo is a fantastic player that just gets better all the time – he not only brings points to ManU, he brings tremendous joy to all of us who love to watch the game.

His game would be even more enjoyable to watch if the soccer honchos finally directed refs to clamp down on all the hard tackles and shirt pullings going on, especially during free kicks and corners. If defenders knew for certain that pulling a shirt would result in a penalty kick, Ronaldo and other strikers would get a tad more freedom, resulting in more goals and even more joy.

Thanks for the show Christiano, keep it coming!

Eroll

January 14th, 2009 4:43 am ET

For me Ronaldo is numero uno. Messi is second and in third position is for Steven Gerrard.

Republic of Kosova

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