[Jazz 16]

Once again Ronaldo saved the day against Everton.
He hit 2 more goals to add to his impressive goalscoring record.
Thats 11 in the Prem, 16 for the season and it's only December
23 last season and 66 goals for United in all. Even for Portugal his record is remarkable. 20 goals in 53 games(and still only 22).
In 2007 he has played 61 games for club and country scoring 31 goals.

He has won all the player of the year accolades in England, come runner up to Kaka in the European Player of the year and 3rd in the World player of the year.

This guy is immense and at 22 is the most exciting player in world football. He can manipulate a football like nobody else and get people off the edge of their seats.

Id like to know how far you all think he can go in his career and what he can achieve?
He's had some good times and some bad times in his footballing life but can he go on to emulate the Best's, Charlton's and Law's of this world?
Will he stay at United for a few years or for his whole career?

It's an exciting time to be a United fan and getting to watch players such as Ronaldo playing for OUR team is just a wonderful feeling. Even though he can sometimes be infuriating to watch he can more than make up for it with some breathtaking moments

Here are some great Ronaldo videos and why we all love Ronnie

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/629168/cristiano_ronaldo_2006_2007/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/168116/c_ronaldo_moves/

 

[Jazz 16]

17 goals this season now. he seems to be improving on his free kicks as well.
this boy cant do any wrong.

 

[Jazz 16]

That hattrick propelled Ronaldo to Uniteds 26th top scorer of ALL time, which is remarkable for a 22 year old.
He went passed Brian Kidd, Steve Coppell and Sammy McIlroy with a total of 72 goals. He is just 10 goals away from Cantona and 13 away from Beckham.
Only 19 players in Uniteds history have scored more than 100.
ronnie keeps racing up the charts and who knows when this will stop.

 

[Jazz 16]

He didnt play his best today but he ran the length of the pitch to score a goal in the last minute. The lad could barely celebrate he was so knackered.

That goal means he has equalled his tally of 23 from last season and its still only January. What an accomplishment that is. Hope he keeps it up.

 

[Jazz 16]

Ronnie will be breaking records this year.

He won a load of individual awards last season but this season could see him winning European and World footballer of the Year.

His main rivals kaka and Messi have been short of top form or periodically injured in messi's case.

Ronaldo currently has 25 in all competitions this season and its only January.

Top scorers for United in a season:

-46-Denis Law - (63/64)
-44-Ruud van Nist - (02/03)
-34-Tommy taylor - (56/57)
-32-Dennis Viollet - (59-60)
-32-George Best - (67/68)
-31-Brian McClair - (87/88)
-30-Jack Rowley - (48/49 & 51/52)
-29-Bobby Charlton - (58/59)
-29-Dwight yorke - (98/99)
-25-Eric Cantona - (93/94)
-23-Cristiano Ronaldo - (06/07)
-?-Cristiano Ronaldo - (07/08)

Im pretty certain Ronaldo will hit over 35 goals and have him above Bestie for a winger and 3rd highest in a season ever.

 

[Jazz 16]

Career: 75 goals in 217 apps.

Goals scored:
2003/04 - 6
2004/05 - 9
2005/06 - 12
2006/07 - 23
2007/08 - 25*

* Up to 29 Jan 2008


Top scorers for United in a season:

-46-Denis Law - (63/64)
-44-Ruud van Nist - (02/03)
-34-Tommy taylor - (56/57)
-32-Dennis Viollet - (59-60)
-32-George Best - (67/68)
-31-Brian McClair - (87/88)
-30-Jack Rowley - (48/49 & 51/52)
-29-Bobby Charlton - (58/59)
-29-Dwight yorke - (98/99)
-25-Eric Cantona - (93/94)
-23-Cristiano Ronaldo - (06/07)
-?-Cristiano Ronaldo - (07/08)


07/08 season Top Scorers so far:
Ronaldo Man Utd 17
Adebayor Arsenal 16
Benjani Portsmouth 12
Keane Tottenham 11
Santa Cruz Blackburn 11
Torres Liverpool 11
Anelka Chelsea 10
Tevez Man Utd 10

 

[Miss Dangerous]

Cristiano Ronaldo described his sublime free-kick in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday as the finest goal of his career.

Ronaldo, 22, struck a spectacular 25-yard free-kick which dipped viciously at the last moment and gave Pompey keeper David James no chance.

Click here to read more and watch an interview with Cristiano and Carlos Queiroz

 

[CROoney]

Cristiano Ronaldo : I'm the best !

Cristiano Ronaldo: I am the best player in the world
February 7, 2008
Kaka might be officially the best player in the world but Cristiano Ronaldo believes that he is the best player in the business. Goal.com quotes the 23-year old Manchester United winger as saying that he is convinced that no player in the last 9 or so months has played better football than he has.

Ronaldo says:

I don't need to demonstrate that I am the No.1 in the world. ver the nine months of the season the work you do will show who really is the best. If I am named the best in the world, it won't be a surprise to me. I'm 23 now and I never believed I would find myself in such a privileged position in the world of football, playing at the highest level for a club of United's standing. But now I am fully prepared for the biggest challenges that lie ahead for me as a player. I want to win everything - the Premier League, the Champions League and Euro 2008, because I am very ambitious.

Ronaldo celebrated his 23rd birthday this Tuesday and the Portuguese international is certainly looking in a healthy condition. The former Sporting Lisbon youngster scored 23 goals in all competitions last season and this time he has already racked up an astounding 27. Yet there has to be some reservations on him the best player in the world. He might well be the best in the Premiership but FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and AC Milan's Kaka are conquering Europe.

 

[reddwarf]

And yet he is still learning...

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that Portugal were taught a footballing lesson during their defeat to Italy last night, while the Portuguese press has also highlighted the Azzurri superiority.

Italy produced an impressive display at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, as goals from Luca Toni, Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Quagliarella earned them a deserved 3-1 win.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been in sensational form in the English Premiership this season was one of the disappointments of the night, as he was marked out of the game by the Italian defence.

“It was an important lesson for us all,” said Ronaldo, who only really threatened with two long-range free-kicks.

The Portuguese press were damning in their verdict of their team’s display, and said they were lucky not to lose by a bigger scoreline.

“Only Ricardo Quaresma saved our honour. A poor performance and another defeat against Italy,” printed A Bola.

Portugal have not beaten Italy for 32 years, with their last victory coming way back in 1976 when Euro 84’ hero Nene scored twice in a 2-1 success.

“Italy exposed Portugal’s fragility,” Record said.

“The world champions gave a lesson in maturity to Scolari’s side. With less possession they dominated, scored three times and missed other chances.”

There is still some question regarding Ronaldo's big game mentality. I know he has scored 3 goals v Arsenal, played well in the Champions League quarter-final against Roma and played well for Portugal in the latter stages of the World Cup.

However, he has repeatedly struggled when up against Ashley Cole, hasn't really performed well against Liverpool or Chelsea and (like the rest of the team) went missing in the Champions League semi-final and FA Cup Final last season.

This isn't a dig at Ronaldo - just a reminder that he is still a young player and has room for improvement as he matures, which is, frankly, an exciting and frightening (for the opposition!) thought.

 

[Jazz 16]

Its just a few bits and bobs and updates on the man of the moment. Not quite sure where Im going with this but bear with me please.

Career: 77 goals in 219 apps. *up to 6th Feb 2008

Goals scored:
2003/04 - 6
2004/05 - 9
2005/06 - 12
2006/07 - 23
2007/08 - 27*

* Up to 6th Feb 2008


Top scorers for United in a season:

-46-Denis Law - (63/64)
-44-Ruud van Nist - (02/03)
-34-Tommy taylor - (56/57)
-32-Dennis Viollet - (59-60)
-32-George Best - (67/68)
-31-Brian McClair - (87/88)
-30-Jack Rowley - (48/49 & 51/52)
-29-Bobby Charlton - (58/59)
-29-Dwight yorke - (98/99)
-27-Cristiano Ronaldo - (07/08) *up to 6th Feb 2008
-25-Eric Cantona - (93/94)
-23-Cristiano Ronaldo - (06/07)

Top scorers this season up to 6th Feb
Ronaldo Man Utd 19
Adebayor Arsenal 18
Benjani Portsmouth 12
Torres Liverpool 12
Anelka Chelsea 11
Keane Tottenham 11
Santa Cruz Blackburn 11
Tevez Man Utd 11

As you can see he has scored more goals in a season than Cantona and is quickly closing in on the likes of Yorke, Charlton and Georgie Best.
Platini has recently scoffed at suggestions that Ronaldo is the best player in the world.
To some extent I agree with him, though on CURRENT form there is no one better in the world.
Kaka won World player of the year because of his all round performances, especially in the big games, when it counted the most.

I have no doubt in my mind that Ronaldo will one day be THE best in the world and hopefully become an Old Trafford Legend.
There has been talk of comparisons to Georgie Best recently so Ill add a few of the stats I found.
Their head to heads are remarkably similar to some degree, except when it comes to the big games.

Professional debuts-both 17
First goal-both 17
International debut-best 17yrs 11 months, Ronnie-18 yrs 6 months.
First int goal-Best 18 and Ronnie 19.
English player of the year both 22.
European player of the year. Best-22yrs, Ronnie-still trying.

This for me is the main difference between a legend(Best) and hopefully a legend in the making(Ronaldo):
Ronaldo's record vs the top 4:
vs Chelsea-played 9 goals 0
vs Liverpool-played 7 goals 0
vs Arsenal-played 10 goals 3
Total played 26 goals 3

George Best excelled on the big stage.
When United won in Europe in 1968 Best scored in the semi against the mighty Madrid and AGAIN in the final against Benfica.
Best had already defined his iconic status with 2 goals and a virtuoso performance in the away leg of the quarter final against Benfica in 65/66. This game essentially gave him the nickname of the fifth beatle.

Best was the greatest and did it when it counted in all the big games.
I feel Ronaldo can reach his level and in the last 18 months HAS shown incredible form but until he does it against the best teams and best defenders he cant be considered the greatest on earth.

 

[United_OG]

if you stop ronaldo playing it will naturally make a big difference. If you stop any of the best players in their respective teams it makes a big difference. Ronaldo always has 2 ppl plus another one or two players coming to him as soon as he gets the ball, no other player in the PL gets that type of attention. So naturally he will have quiet games.

All the best players in the world have bad games and are stopped from time to time.

 

[Jazz 16]

Well he scored his 30th goal of the season and we have just hit March.
That is the most remarkable of scoring record. How does he do it?
At least he got the goal tonight because otherwise he was VERY poor.

Ronaldo has now scored more goals in a season than Bobby Charlton
and Yorkie , who both had 29 in a season.
Now equal with Jack Rowley and just 2 behind the record for a winger:
Georgie Best's magical 32 goals.

 

[versa]

Ronny tally "incredible"

Source: ManUtd.com


United legend Paddy Crerand hailed Cristiano Ronaldo after his 30th goal of the season ensured United's place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The winger struck his 30th goal in as many games against Lyon on Tuesday night and it was enough to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory for the Reds.

Ronaldo is now within two goals of George Best's record and Crerand is backing the 23-year-old to keep up his remarkable scoring trend.

"It’s an incredible feat for any player, let alone a winger, to score 30 goals in a season," Paddy told ManUtd.com.

"You’d be delighted as a striker to hit that amount of goals, so for Ronaldo to do it is fantastic.

"The amazing thing is he isn’t finished yet, there’s a lot more to come from him.

The Reds winger is not only prolific, his goals also tend to come at crucial times, which makes him even more a prized asset going into the final stages of the campaign.

Crerand added: "He’s popped up with important goals at important times and I'm sure he'll continue to do that between now and the end of the season."

Ronaldo hits 30
Sporting Lisbon 0-1 United (1)
Birmingham 0-1 United (1)
United 4-0 Wigan (2)
Dynamo Kiev 2-4 United (2)
Arsenal 2-2 United (1)
United 4-0 Dynamo Kiev (1)
United 2-0 Blackburn (2)
United 2-1 Sporting Lisbon (1)
United 2-0 Fulham (2)
United 4-1 Derby (1)
United 2-1 Everton (2)
Sunderland 0-4 United (1)
West Ham 2-1 United (1)
Aston Villa 0-2 United (1)
United 6-0 Newcastle (3)
Reading 0-2 United (1)
United 3-1 Tottenham (2)
United 2-0 Portsmouth (2)
Newcastle 1-5 United (2)
United 1-0 Lyon (1)

 

[Jazz 16]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnVFynsPjek

This is pretty cool. I want to know who the cameraman's assistant is....
Sign him up now lol. Some great tricks here.

Check out the trick on 1:36. It defies belief and its not Ronnie lol

 

[Jazz 16]

Games Played: 229
Goals Scored: 85

Goals scored:

2003/04 - 6
2004/05 - 9
2005/06 - 12
2006/07 - 23
2007/08 - 35*

* Up to 29th March 2008

Top scorer this season:

Ronaldo Man Utd 25
Torres Liverpool 20
Adebayor Arsenal 19
Keane Tottenham 14
Berbatov Tottenham 13



Top scorers for United in a season:

-46-Denis Law - (63/64)
-44-Ruud van Nist - (02/03)
-39-Denis Law - (64/65)
-36-Ruud van Nist- (01/02)
-35-Cristiano Ronaldo - (07/08) *up to 29th March 2008
-34-Tommy Taylor - (56/57)
-33-Liam Whelan -
-33-David Herd - (65/66)
-32-Dennis Viollet - (59-60)
-32-George Best - (67/68)
-31-Brian McClair - (87/88)
-30-Jack Rowley - (48/49 & 51/52)
-29-Bobby Charlton - (58/59)
-29-Dwight yorke - (98/99)
-25-Eric Cantona - (93/94)



Ronaldo has finally passed George Best's record for a midfielder.
He has also just passed the famous Tommy Taylor, from the
Busby Babe era. Once he has passed that, he can look at Ruud's record

Ronaldo is now the 23rd most prolific scorer in Manchester United's history.
He has just overtaken Cantona who had 82 goals and is closing in on
Beckham who has 85 to his name.

edit:he has just equalled Beckhams total of 85

 

[United_OG]

whether he is the best player in the world or not, he is by far our best and most complete player. He was one of the best three players in the world last season and this season he has played better than anyone in the world.

There seems to be loads of rooney bias on this site and sometimes i get the feeling people on here do not want ronaldo to be the best player in the world or something but really, he has been the difference for us this season so many times i find it difficult to believe people still doubt him. Infact it makes me laugh. Even if he doesnt have a good game on sunday he is so consistant and when on top of his game he is more often than not the difference. Brilliant and most complete player at united.

Pleasure to have watched him at old trafford and i hope he continues to entertain and delight fans and the world for many years to come

 

[Red Devil]

And Cristiano Ronaldo goes into the history books as the most prolific scoring winger, taking over George Best's record with 2 goals against Bolton to taker his current tally to 33 this season.

 

[red_devils4life]

Ronaldo The Rocket Man

Daily Mail Jamie Redknapp
20:58pm 27th December 2007

Can you believe that one of Christiano Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mates wanted to take that free-kick at Sunderland? It was a short debate.

"No, leave it to me. Watch this . . . top corner," he replied. And that's where it ended up.
It is pure theatre watching Ronaldo. He is on top of his game, oozing confidence and when he prepares to take a free-kick, there is a buzz of expectation around the stadium — you can just see the fear in the opposition defenders and goalkeeper.
They know what's coming, what they don't know is how to stop it.
When Ronaldo prepares to strike for goal, he stands back — a bit like Jonny Wilkinson preparing to take aim from a rugby penalty. He opens his legs, rocks from side to side as he shifts his weight and focuses on the target.
Then he clumps the ball, whacks the plastic off it, punts it, stuns it with force and power and control and aim. The end result, more often than not, is another spectacular goal.
How does he do it? When he strikes the ball, he runs straight and also connects with the front of his foot, uses his laces and gets the ball to dip and whip. And he's mastered the art, too.

Try it yourself and you'll see how difficult it is. I heard that he used to strike the valve, which compresses the ball and makes it move and swerve as it changes shape in the air.
I'm not sure if he has the same technique now, we'll have to watch and see. I hear that he might just have modified his method to better the end result.
Craig Gordon couldn't tell you how it happens. The Sunderland goalkeeper barely saw the ball, such was the speed and the movement as the shot flashed past him on the way to Manchester United's 4-0 win and a place back at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Let's not forget the accuracy, too.
Ronaldo put the ball exactly where he meant to and, as someone who liked taking free-kicks, I can tell you that's not always so easy; I saw plenty sailing over the bar.
Ronaldo will practise that skill every day after training, possibly for half an hour, hitting 30 or 40 shots. Like an outstanding golfer, repetition will be the key.
When I took a free-kick, I would try to hit the ball cleanly and put my foot through it. I couldn't take them like Ronaldo, but the ball has changed now. It's easier to deceive the goalkeeper. That's my excuse anyway.
I remember scoring an important free-kick against Blackburn on the last day of the season for Liverpool at Anfield. We won the game, but they won the title.
David Beckham was the standard bearer, but his technique was different from the current Manchester United No 7's.
Beckham would approach a ball from the side and then wrap his foot around to curl the ball with pace and bend. We all remember his last minute goal for England against Greece at Old Trafford. In club games when he was taking aim, you would always think: 'Oh no . . .'
Gianfranco Zola had a great talent for getting the ball up and over the defensive wall quickly and then back down as the ball spun and gathered pace on its way towards the goal. He didn't have the same power as Ronaldo, although he carried similar menace.
Ruud Gullit was another former Chelsea player who would make you regret conceding the free-kick. He was a great technician with the ball, you would instantly dread the outcome and stand there expecting trouble.
Another favourite of mine, a brilliant free-kick taker, was my former Liverpool team-mate Gary McAllister, who could also take a fantastic corner. He would stroke the ball, hit it in a delicate way and float his shot away from the goalkeeper. Accuracy, more than power, was his weapon.

Having a dead-ball specialist carries such a threat in the modern game. The Manchester United versus Liverpool game and the Arsenal versus Chelsea game were both decided by goals from set plays.
Every team needs one specialist and United have the best.
Didier Drogba smashes the ball for Chelsea and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard can also finish from long range and has scored some spectacular goals himself.
He, too, is different from Ronaldo and likes the ball slipped to the side to give him the angle as he runs on to a moving ball.
Ronaldo had a slow start to this season. He was sent off at Portsmouth, it took him until the end of September before he scored his first League goal and he didn't come flying out of the blocks.
I had him in my Fantasy League team and after three or four games, I thought I'd made a mistake.
Now he is the top scorer in the top flight, he has scored 17 goals in all competitions and is on course to beat last season's haul of 25 goals. Looking at the records for last season, he is already five ahead.
On current form, the Footballer of the Year is again the best player in the country. Don't simply take my word for it, look at the records. In his last 13 games he has scored 15 goals.
The next time they win a free-kick in the danger area, it might be wise for his United team-mates simply to let him have the ball.

 

[Jazz 16]

I think rd4l said it all in the first article you posted.
Interesting to know that Ronaldo wear smaller boots than
his size 9 feet. No wonder he changes his boots often
during a game. I used to hate when Ronnie stepped up for a
free kick. He used to smash them in the wall or the stands.
But now he has become as effective as Beckham.

Ronaldo's free kicks this season:
vs Sunderland
vs Portsmouth
vs Newcastle
vs Bolton
vs Sporting

last season he got the one vs European XI
and one against Portsmouth.
In his 1st season he got one against Pompey.
I make that 8 goals he has scored from fk's.
Anyone remember any more?

 

[HansDavid]

Ronaldo....

Jesus, I knew he was something special when we first signed him, but I never thought for a moment that he was "that" special before...

Now I realize that this kid is on another level. This guy is a legitimate legend for our club now. 33 goals in a season ? For a winger ? In modern football ? Jesus, that was freakish, this kid is ilegal to have cos' he is that (deleted) good, it's not even fair anymore...

I remember all the rants when we signed him that we should've gone for Ronaldinho.... Damn... how he prove everybody and every single pundits who bashed him on his step over, free styling antics wrong...

All hail Cristiano Ronaldo, should've called him Christ Ronaldo... (deleted)...