Rio hails Cris

RIO FERDINAND reckons that Cristiano Ronaldo's turnaround in fortunes since his World Cup vilification is even more remarkable than David Beckham's transformation from villain to hero after his shameful sending off in France '98.

Ronaldo has been in dazzling form for Manchester United despite being abused by supporters across the country for his role in getting Wayne Rooney red-carded in England's quarter-final exit to Portugal in Germany.

The talented 21-year-old winger has scored eight goals to steer United top of the Premiership and is now hot favourite to scoop the coveted PFA Player Of The Year award. United and England star Ferdinand says Ronaldo has "got balls" to have returned to these shores and perform so well after witnessing first hand the Portuguese winker's antics that fate-ful July night in Gelsenkirchen.

Ferdinand believes Ronaldo's performances since are particularly impressive given that he suffered the loss of his father in September last year after a long illness."People are going to compare his situation with Beckham's but I think Ronaldo is in a bracket of his own," said Ferdinand.

"Ronnie has had a fair bit more than most players have had to cope with - on and off the pitch. It takes a great player with strong character to come through and he's shown that. He's done very well for us and long may it continue.

"The reaction of the Villa fans when his name was announced on the tannoy was typical. He got booed. But he answers them on the pitch. That's what he's been doing - and he has been the best player in the league this season so far. Someone who is getting kicked from pillar to post every game yet still wants the ball as much as he does, shows he has balls.

"In adverse situations the top players step up to the plate and make sure their performances get noticed. And he's done that in glowing terms this season. All the best players get booed. Alan Shearer used to get booed at every away ground and look how many goals he scored. Ronaldo is doing the same. He's scoring, but he knows when to pass the ball. He's still doing his tricks but they are in the right areas, which is good for us." United's win at Villa, which kept them two points ahead of Chelsea, was memorable for Ronaldo's outstanding display and a brilliant goal from Paul Scholes.

Ferdinand said it was vital United picked up three points against Martin O'Neill's side to prove their defeat at West Ham in their previous game was merely a blip. We bounced back in the right manner," added Ferdinand, who started his career at the Hammers. "Scholesy's goal kind of summed it up because that's what we needed. I'm not going to lie - the defeat at West Ham had an effect on me personally."But it's how you bounce back after a defeat and we did that at Villa."

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