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Wednesday, 23 April 2008

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Cristiano Ronaldo

The Real Madrid star is the most expensive soccer star in history

Cristiano flashes a smile at the Nike Joga Bonito Movement event in London

Name Cristiano Ronaldo

Birth name Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Date of birth 5 February 1985

Star sign Aquarius

Birthplace Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Height 6ft 1in

Eye colour Brown

Marriages None

Children None

Biography

Widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo excites football and non-football fans alike.

Named after former US president Ronald Reagan, who was greatly admired by Cristiano's father, the winger has become famous for his fancy footwork as well as ‘scoring' regularly off the pitch.

Raised in Madeira in the Canary Islands, Cristiano's soccer skills were apparent from an early age. He was snapped up by Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon as a teenager before joining Manchester United for more than £12million in 2003.

Since then he has won a host of honours and accolades - including the coveted FIFA World Player Of The Year prize - while in March 2008 he beat George Best's 40-year record of most goals scored in a season for Manchester United by a winger.

In summer 2009, Cristiano's status as a football great was cemented when Manchester United accepted an offer of £80million for him from Real Madrid, making him the most expensive soccer star in history. A record 80,000 fans later turned out to see him at his official presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. 

Cristiano has been as successful off the pitch as he is on it. As well as being linked to a string of beauties including actress and model Gemma Atkinson, Portuguese TV presenter Merche Romero, Spanish model Nereida Gallardo and Paris Hilton, he has a chain of CR7 boutiques in his native Portugal.

As his profile has soared, Cristiano has admitted to getting his wonky teeth fixed and is even rumoured to regularly wax his chest. But while he may look groomed, his behaviour seemingly hasn't always been so squeaky clean. In 2007 he was alleged to have celebrated one of Manchester United's victories by inviting five escorts back to his mansion for a party.

SEE PICTURES Cristiano Ronaldo - a life in photos>>

SEE PICTURES Cristiano Ronaldo and Nereida Gallardo's romantic holiday>>