CNN -- Fleet-footed winger Cristiano Ronaldo is Manchester United 's most deadly weapon and officially the best footballer in the world . Manchester United 's Cristiano Ronaldo is the current FIFA World Player of the Year . Born in 1985 on the Portuguese island of Madeira , the 23-year-old cut his teeth with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon , where his amazing skill and dribbling ability alerted a host of top European clubs . However , it was Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who nipped in before his rivals to sign Ronaldo for a reported fee of $ 19 million in 2003 . With Manchester United he has won three Premier League titles , two Football League Cups , the FA Cup , the World Club Championship , and the Champions League . After a phenomenal 2007/2008 season , in which he scored 42 goals for Manchester United in all competitions , he was voted FIFA and FIFPro World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year . That season his 31 Premier League goals won him the Golden Shoe award , making him officially Europe 's most prolific goal scorer , and he was also the leading scorer in the Champions League , with eight goals . He capped a remarkable campaign by scoring the opening goal , before also netting from the penalty spot , as United beat Chelsea in a dramatic Champions League final in Moscow . Tall , elegant and powerful , Ronaldo is as good in the air as he is with the ball at his feet , as he proved with his header against Chelsea in last year 's final . He also possesses a remarkable and unique free-kick technique , managing to bend and swerve the ball to devastating effect , notably with the goal that effectively ended Arsenal 's challenge in the semifinals of this year 's Champions League . Apart from his success at Old Trafford , Ronaldo is a regular figure for his national side , making his full international debut in 2003 and going on to represent Portugal at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 finals . However , despite his god-given talent , Ronaldo still gets criticized in Portugal for allegedly failing to replicate his United form in a Portugal shirt . According to Forbes , Ronaldo was football 's fifth biggest earner in 2008 . Of his $ 21 million income , $ 12m was in salary and incentives from Manchester United and another $ 9 million came from endorsements with global brands like of Nike and Coca-Cola .
Ronaldo Voted FIFA World Player of the Year and European Player of Year . He has also represented Portugal at the both World and European finals . Ronaldo was signed by Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 . Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a striker for Real Madrid, one of the most successful clubs in world football history with more than 100 titles won.