Portugal VS Brazil on 6 Feb

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for Brazil's friendly match against Portugal on 6th February. The Gunners will play host to the meeting of two of world football's strongest sides as the South Americans return to North London following a successful two-game cameo in September.

Brazil played Argentina in the first ever international to be held at Arsenal's new home before travelling to White Hart Lane to play Wales in 2006, and have decided to return for another showpiece event in England's capital.

The friendly encounter pits Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari against the nation whom he led to World Cup glory in 2002, and is the renowned motivator's first appearance on English soil since turning down the chance to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson before the 2006 finals.

'Big Phil' has already beaten Brazil once during his tenure in charge of Portugal, and the respected international coach is keen to face his home country again. "It will be the second time I'll face Brazil since I took charge of the Portuguese team," said Scolari.

"To me it's of course a special moment and I'm really looking forward to the match. "I'm sure it will be an entertaining event given the enormous quality and talent of the players involved."

CBF president Ricardo Teixeira added: "This announcement follows Brazil's successful international friendlies against Argentina and Wales in London last year. "We are delighted to be returning to the fantastic Emirates Stadium to take on one of the best teams in the world in front of what we are sure will be another sell-out crowd."

FA Cup : United 2-1 Aston Villa

Once again Ole Gunnar Solskjaer emerged as United's supersub with a dramatic injury-time winner as United edged past Aston Villa and into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Debutant Henrik Larsson, who impressed throughout, gave United the lead with a fine goal just after half-time, but substitute Milan Baros seemed to have nicked a replay for Martin O'Neill's side after equalising 16 minutes from time.

It was Solskjaer who had the final say in an entertaining tie, however, as he fired underneath the body of Gabor Kiraly in the first of four added minutes to send United through......More

2007 is going to be my big year

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes he has a good chance of winning the Footballer of the Year award this season. The Portuguese international has been in stunning form for the Red Devils, although Chelsea's Didier Drogba is rivalling him for the gong.

"Drogba appears very convinced about winning the top awards but it's not always the goals that decide these things," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in the News of the World. If he wins I shall congratulate him because I am a good sport. But when we talk about the best player of 2006/07 I sincerely believe that I am a good option.

"My objective is to score more goals to help United and not to enter into a war with Drogba. That would be madness - I always search for success for the team. And I warn you that I do desire to win many, many competitions. I repeat: 2007 is going to be my big year. First I want to win titles with United and after that personal gratitude from Europe and the world."

Makes impressio on Villa manager

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has praised Cristiano Ronaldo for emulating David Beckham in dealing with being public enemy No 1 amongst fans in a positive manner ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

Beckham had a spell of being reviled by supporters after his sending-off when on World Cup duty for England against Argentina during the 1998 finals but gradually won his critics over.
Ronaldo has also been the victim of the boo-boys after the part he played in Wayne Rooney's dismissal during the World Cup quarter-final between England and Portugal in Germany last summer.

But he has also responded in an upbeat way with a series of superb performances to make himself a leading contender with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba for the PFA Footballer Of The Year award.

Ronaldo tormented Villa in United's 3-0 away win a fortnight ago, scoring twice, and continued in the same rich vein of form during the festive period. O'Neill said: "If there is a comparison to be drawn between Ronaldo and Beckham, in the way they have responded to adverse criticism, that's fine. I don't necessarily look at it like that. But I think that Ronaldo's response, if it is a response to what happened in Portugal, has been fantastic."

"If it's just him maturing more quickly as a player, then it's just amazing. But what happened in the World Cup could affect people. It hasn't seen to have bothered him.I wouldn't know him well enough to know whether it inspired him or whatever but it has not bothered him."

O'Neill believes Ronaldo has found the right balance between being a crowd pleaser and doing effective job for Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The Villa chief said: "Ronaldo came to Manchester United a couple of season ago with raw talent and people talked about his ability to play the final ball, of him being rather superfluous and not seeing things. If his performance against us was anything to go by, he can still do the occasional trick that goes wrong, but he instantly forgets about it and gets onto the next thing."

"He gets onto the next thing. It wouldn't prevent him from doing another little trick but, in essence, Ronaldo is not only a crowd pleaser but a brilliant player. They are different things. You can be a crowd pleaser and drve your manager insane. Great players can combine both and that's why he is a great player."

Real Ronaldo talk is nonsense

Sir Alex Ferguson has sternly refuted reports from Spain that Real Madrid have, or are poised to, bid for United's in-form Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 21-year-old has been an integral part of the United team this season and the Reds boss was quick to quell any talk of a move involving one of European football's finest talents. "It's nonsense," he told reporters on Friday. "Firstly, I can tell you they have not made any offer. And, secondly, it's not even an issue for us, so it's not worth talking about."

Madrid to bid for Cris

Madrid - Spanish giants Real Madrid have made a bid for on-fire Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, a Spanish newspaper reported on Thursday.

Real, without silverware for four years, have bid 40 million euros for the 21-year-old Portugal international in an effort to sign him in the January transfer window, the Madrid-based ABC daily said.

But the English Premiership leaders have no intention of letting go of the in-form Ronaldo, who scored three consecutive doubles for his club over the holiday period, and have slapped a price tag of 70 million euros on him, ABC said.

Ronaldo better than Best?

The time has come to put aside your team loyalty, your patriotic allegiance and your pathetic reasons for not liking the boy from Madeira.

Cristiano Ronaldo - the former diver, the youngster who winked after he got Rooney sent off - has matured into arguably the world's best attacking wide-midfielder in the short space of five months. I know that this is based purely on his performances in the English Premiership and a few games in the Champions League, but allow me to explain.

Ryan Giggs was hailed as the 'new Georgie Best' when he first burst on the scene.

Young, quick and on the wing - those were enough reasons for journalists to compare him to Georgie. But Giggs was never one to torment a defender. His pace, close control and body swerve were, and still are, the trademarks of his game.

Giggs's goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final is a perfect snap shot of his game. Taking the ball at pace at a defender, skipping inside one, then outside another, and back inside before blasting a left-footed shot into the roof of the net - that is pure Giggs.

Best on the other hand, took as much pleasure out of scoring a great goal as he did in tormenting a defender. He would keep going at the same player, over and over, showing the crowd how easy it was to destroy this player in front of his worshipping fans.

Best also had pace, skill, close control and a body swerve of note, but he also had the desire to 'show off' for want of a better expression. He believed he was there to perform for the manager and for the crowd.

Cristiano has that same desire to express himself. He has matured enough to pass the ball a bit more, and to cross the ball earlier - but he still has the urge to torment a defender.

He looks almost like a matador facing an angry bull - his red shirt the flag for the studs of the defender. He has been the most fouled player in the English Premiership this season - and there are those who say he goes down too easily - but there are times when he doesn't get the free-kicks he deserves for really being kicked.

But he gets up, gets the ball and goes straight back at his man. This is courageous. He knows that he will be kicked and yet he keeps going back.

Courage is a quality that George Best had in abundance. He would take the tackles and he would also make his share of them - he would never pull out. Ronaldo doesn't tackle - I don't think he knows how - but it is not something we should judge him on.

His ability to lift his team this season, his prowess in front of goal, his fast feet, his control and pace are all things we should acknowledge for what they are worth.

He is a player you would pay to watch. At 21 years of age, he really has his best days in front of him (baring serious injury - touch wood) and he will go on to be the best player in the world in the very near future.

He is the jewel in the United crown, and if he stays fit this season, he will be the single reason why United could topple Chelsea at the end of it all.

Ronaldo and Drogba head gong list

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba of Chelsea have been in outstanding form this season. Here, TEAMtalk explains why they are the outstanding candiates to win the Player of the Year award and looks at some of the other potential nominees.

CRISTIANO RONALDO
Manchester United's Portuguese star has scored seven goals in his last six games and 12 in all this season. The 21-year-old has put aside his World Cup troubles and dispelled any suggestion of a rift with Wayne Rooney to fire United's title charge.

Ronaldo suffered last season under constant accusations of diving and was sent off for a dreadful tackle on Andy Cole against Manchester City.

He has turned all that around with a series of brilliant displays, completing a remarkable transformation from villain to hero. His form is the chief reason why United sit six points clear at the top of the table......More

How Fergie kept getting the Ron number

SIR Alex Ferguson has revealed that he was concerned when he could not contact Cristiano Ronaldo after his World Cup bust-up with Wayne Rooney. The Reds manager tried to contact both players after their confrontation during the England versus Portugal match, as Rooney was sent off.

But, while he immediately got hold of Rooney, it was some time before he contacted Portuguese ace Ronaldo, although he finally discovered he had been texting the player's old mobile number.

That revelation comes after Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has told how he "offered" the Reds ace to Barcelona last summer, only to be turned down because the club were holding out for Arsenal's Thierry Henry.

Speculation was rife in June that Ronaldo was about to leave Old Trafford after he told a Spanish newspaper, a week before the altercation with Rooney, that he wanted to join Real Madrid.

That followed just a month after a training-ground row with Ruud van Nistelrooy which had sparked rumours that Ronaldo would be Spain-bound in the summer - although it was the Dutchman who eventually left.

United fans feared that, with a baying mob waiting for him in England, Ronaldo's apparent desire to leave would be fuelled by those two incidents. And even Ferguson, untouched by media hysteria more than most, has hinted that he was concerned at the time.

He attempted to contact both players, amid wild claims that Rooney was out for Ronaldo's blood over the affair, but only managed to speak to one. "I was able to get hold of Wayne straight away but with Ronaldo I was texting his old number. I was thinking to myself `Why's he not ringing back?' " he said.

"If you add that to our concern over what had been said - and the media did go completely over the top - it was getting to be ridiculous as well as irresponsible. So while it's better not to take all the over-reaction seriously, we address it back here.

"We find that players are always fine once we get them back within the confines of the training ground. But it's true that it's more difficult where a World Cup is concerned, because you've no direct link right away.

"I remember I told David Beckham to bite the bullet, to get away to the USA and say nothing after his red card against Argentina in 1998 and that turned out OK."

The heart and soul of Manchester

It seems to be pay back time for Cristiano Ronaldo for the confidence that Sir Alex Ferguson has in him over the years. The form in which he is playing now is so superlative that he has turned the heart and soul of Manchester United. What more with his spectacular face saving goals that has brought the club from the brink of defeats.

Ronaldo has put himself in line for a host of footballer of the year awards with a series of outstanding individual displays in United's increasingly convincing pursuit of the Premiership title.

His contribution has reached a thrilling crescendo over the festive period, during which he has fired two goals in each of the three games, culminating in Saturday's 3-2 win over Reading, taking his tally to the season to 12 and ensuring the Red Devils take full advantage of Chelsea's current defensive problems.

As recently as a couple of months ago, few would have been brave enough to claim United had a better young player on their books than Wayne Rooney. But it is becoming increasingly apparent they do, and, having watched the Portugal wide-man at close quarters this season, team mate Solskjaer is not surprised.

Born 5, February, 1985 Critaino Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, better known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a professional Portuguese footballer, who plays for Manchester United F.C. and Portugal. He's considered one of the best players in the world and one of the finest young talents today.
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal to his mother Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and his father José Dinis Aveiro. He grew up with a brother, Hugo, and two sisters, Elma and Katia. His second name ("Ronaldo") is relatively rare in Portugal. His parents named him after former US president Ronald Reagan because he was his father's favourite actor, and not for political reasons.

He began kicking a football when he was three, and when he started primary school at age six, his passion for the sport was obvious. His favourite boyhood team was SL Benfica even though he would later join their rival, Sporting CP. He first played for an amateur team, Andorinha, where his father was the kit man, when he was just eight years old.

By 1995, at just ten years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo's reputation was growing in Portugal. Madeira's top two teams, CS Marítimo and CD Nacional were both interested in signing him. Marítimo, the bigger team, missed a crucial meeting with Rui Santos manager of Andorinha, and as a result Ronaldo signed for Nacional. After a title-winning campaign at Nacional, Ronaldo went on a three day trial with Sporting Lisbon who subsequently signed him for an undisclosed sum.

Ronaldo joined Sporting's other youth players who trained at the Alcochete, the club's "football factory," where he received first-class instruction. Sporting realised that Ronaldo needed more support and arranged for his mother to join him. He made his debut for Sporting Lisbon against Moreirense and scored 2 goals. He also featured for Portugal in the UEFA Under 17 Championships.

Ferguson decided that he wanted the youngster for his team, who were in the market for a right-sided midfielder with the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid; Cristiano was signed for a fee of £12.24 million. He made his debut for Manchester United as a 60th minute substitute against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford. United were then 1-0 up but with just minutes on the pitch, Ronaldo won a penalty which Ruud van Nistelrooy duly converted. The match ended in a 4-0 win to Manchester United and Ronaldo's contributions were hyped everywhere, with certain British tabloids running headlines such as Seven Heaven. He has played primarily as a winger for United and can play on either wing.

However for all his skill and pace, Ronaldo supposedly did not want the pressure of living up to expectations with this number, and so initially asked for the number 28 which he wore at Sporting. Preferring a free role, he has often been accused of being selfish.

A row between him and Ruud van Nistelrooy at the Carrington training ground intensified speculation about their roles at the club. Ferguson has however put his faith with Ronaldo, who signed a new deal with United that will last through 2010. Ronaldo is also quoted in the Manchester Evening News as saying "United have stood by me and been there for me and I want to repay that.”

As Ronaldo rises, Figo can see sunset

The first sporting eclipse of 2007 might be a desert mirage.

In the last week of the old year, Luís Figo, one of Europe's finest players of the past decade, was widely reported to be on his way to wind down his career in the desert after "signing" a contract with the Saudi Arabian champion club Al-Ittihad.

At the same time, Cristiano Ronaldo, his heir apparent in Portuguese terms, was in such form over Christmas that it seemed the transition from the old to the new was finally at hand.

"It's official now," announced Hamad Al Sanie, the team manager of Al-Ittihad. "Figo will arrive in Jeddah on 5 January when he'll join the team."

Nobody had told Massimo Moratti, the owner of Inter Milan, which had Figo on contract until the end of this season. And during the year-end rush, nobody informed the media that Moratti, who can be quite the persuasive patrician when he wants to be, was working on his player.

And, though the news has yet to reach the Red Sea, it seems that Figo and family will remain in Milan where his deal has been extended well into 2008.

Once the star dust settles on this winter's tale, the reality will be that Figo's fine class and his enduring ability to change games at a stroke of his right foot are qualities that are not yet ready to be pensioned off to a lesser league.

Used sparingly, Figo has the experience that clubs dare not lightly let go."You don't cling to great players," I recall Helmut Schön, the doyen of German coaches saying 30 years ago. "They cling to you."

Moratti knows what that meant.

The wisdom of great players can still make the difference. Younger guys can do the running, but the mind, the intelligence to know when and how to alter a situation is sometimes best served by those who have been there and done it.

There was a time when soccer players eased the pain of encroaching years by migrating to the United States. Today, as the Al-Ittihad attempt to lure Figo showed, there are alternative flight paths.

Neither the Inter president's intervention, nor the Arabian reported offer which the club says is $8 million for 17 months for Figo's final fling, disguise the fact that, at 34, his eclipse is nigh.

The once explosive pace gives way to something more sedate. Figo can still trick a defender, as you would expect from an old timer with 127 Portuguese appearances and a career decorated in honors for Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter.

One day, perhaps soon, he will shuffle off toward the desert sun. Meanwhile the light that once bathed Figo, already shines on Ronaldo.

The Manchester United winger is 21. He began to eclipse Figo at the World Cup, where both played well. Yet Ronaldo became cast in England as the villain who got Wayne Rooney red carded in Gelsinkirchen.

Commentators who should know better wanted a scapegoat for England's defeat. They couldn't blame Figo — who incidentally United tried to sign in exchange for David Beckham five years ago. They wouldn't blame Rooney, even though stamping his foot into the groin of Ricardo Carvalho on the ground was his own foul act.

So they blamed Ronaldo for running to the referee to protest, and then winking when he saw the red card that any decent referee would have brandished anyway. Immature followers of English soccer have targeted Ronaldo ever since. Each time he plays away from Manchester, including the January 1 tied contest at Newcastle, the winger is booed every time he touches the ball.

His initial reaction last summer had been to say that he would rather join Real Madrid which was courting him. Ferguson dispatched Carlos Quieroz, his Portuguese assistant, to Portugal to talk Ronaldo round. Few missions could have been more beneficial.

Time after time, Ronaldo has been United's man of the match. His tendency to show the ball to a defender, tease him, drag it back, step over it a few times, was deemed by many to be arrogant. His habit of going to ground as if hit by sniper fire was detested in English stadiums.

Yet those excesses of a youth have lessened as the God-given gifts have flourished. United, and Portugal, are benefiting now from the maturing of the boy from Madeira.

In some respects, Ronaldo becomes a little more like Figo with every passing day. Rooney has "forgiven" him, and struggles now to be as valuable to United as Ronaldo.

Figo has learned to live with the fact that his time is waning, the new generation is beginning to fly. When Portugal lost the World Cup semi-final to France, one of the most symbolic moments of 2006 was Figo swapping shirts, and embraces, with Zinédine Zidane, hid former Real Madrid team-mate.

Their era was almost done. If only Zidane had not departed with that grotesque butt in the final. If only Figo had not been labeled "Pesetero," money grabber, by Barcelona when he quit there for Madrid.

Figo, now a father to three girls, handed over his mantle to Ronaldo after the World Cup. And Ronaldo will, in time, be Portugal's captain. He has emerged out of a troubled year to realize that sporting notoriety is a love-hate relationship.

If you are that talented, it's a game. Enjoy the cheers and show those who jeer that they spur you rather than daunt you.

Some of the boos in English soccer have been silenced by the six goals in three games Ronaldo scored for his club during Christmas week. Some critics, have been quieted, because there is clear end product now to Ronaldo's dancing feet, his expression of sheer joy in his own talent.

His career is as much ahead of him as Figo's is becoming past tense. That's life. That's the cycle of renewal that all of us face.

Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo has earned his page in Wikipedia, even though the Web site prefaces his entry with the note: "This article is about the footballer. For the organization FIGO, see International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics."

Well, we do understand that soccer players of this ilk are born, not made. Alex Ferguson knew that when he paid $24 million for Ronaldo as a teenager. He knew it when the World Cup imbroglio broke and Portugal, with Figo on one wing and Ronaldo on the other, knocked England out.

From Manchester to Milan, even to Jeddah, there are millions of reasons to march to your own drum, and bank accordingly.

Man Utd 2:2 Newcastle

A second-half strike from Newcastle's David Edgar denied leaders Manchester United victory in a thrilling match.

The Magpies took a surprise lead when James Milner fired in a stunning shot high into Edwin van der Sar's goal. The visitors bounced back when Scholes rifled in a brilliant 20-yard shot before he scored a sublime second from a similar distance. But 19-year-old defender Edgar grabbed a point for Newcastle with 25-yard drive that deflected in off Scholes.

The action started almost from the word go when Louis Saha came close to giving the visitors the lead, but fired just wide of Shay Given's goal.

Ronaldo, who tormented the inexperienced Newcastle defence all match, gave Saha the chance to make amends for his earlier miss, but this time the Frenchman was thwarted by an impressive save from Given. The striker then had a header blocked on the line from Giggs' cross, before his miserable day was complete when he came off with an injury.

Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson's men still looked formidable opposition and when Newcastle took the lead it not only stunned the leaders but also the crowd at St James'..........Read more



Post-match - Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"We missed a stack of chances but we have to admire Newcastle's character, they deserved their point. We should have won the match but we did not play as well as we have been because they did not allow us to play. I have nothing but praise for them. It is a real challenge now for the championship but we are a serious contender and points will be dropped by both teams."

Incomparable Ronaldo has world at his twinkling feet

Cristiano Ronaldo has even caught the eye of my missus. “Who’s he?” she asked as we watched television the other day. Good-looking and brilliant. You’ve got to hate him, right? Well, no, you don’t. You’ve got to admire him because he’s gone from being one of the most resented players in the country to one of the most respected. It’s a testament to his character and his talent.

His father died last year and with the stick he got after the World Cup finals — and even before, for being a diver and for those stepovers — it would have been easy for him to give up on England and move somewhere more sympathetic. Instead, he spoke with his twinkling feet.

For my money, he’s the best player in the world. Who has had a better year? He was outstanding in the second half of last season for Manchester United, and only Fabio Cannavaro, the Italy captain, was superior at the World Cup. Kaká is doing well for AC Milan, but they’ve been indifferent and Ronaldinho was poor in Germany.

Thierry Henry’s supporters may disagree, but for the first time in Premiership history, I think the finest footballer on the planet is plying his trade in England. Ronaldo’s so good right now, he’s making even Wayne Rooney look average. I think back to watching Johan Cruyff and how his “Cruyff turn” was a thing of wonder. Ronaldo has so many sensational flicks and tricks, we take them almost for granted.

He has as much skill as Ronaldinho, is better in the air and will get more goals. He’s got so many weapons, so few weaknesses, and he’s only 21. He should get even better. How good will he be in 2007 if he improves by only 5 per cent? And if he’s dominant in England, what would he be like in Spain or Italy, where defenders are less rugged and would give him more space?

That’s why he’d be in the £40 million bracket if he was transferred. He’s worth more than Rooney, because with Rooney there would be doubts about his ability to settle abroad. I’d bet that the Old Trafford crowd would be more reluctant to part with the Portuguese than the Englishman on present form.

Does the diving make him any less gifted? Of course not. He’s not exactly unique in going down too easily and, without excusing him, it’s an understandable way of protecting himself. If he tried to stand up to every tackle, defenders would clatter him because, when he’s in full flow, there’s no other way of stopping him.

Until recently, Ronaldo reminded me of an English kid who had a trial at Marseilles when I played there. In the warm-up, he performed amazing ball-juggling tricks. Then we played a practice match and he was so useless he was removed after 15 minutes.

All the skill but no end product, no understanding of how to channel his talent and play for the team. A circus act. Ronaldo was a little like that, but he’s matured so much and so quickly. Now he’s a fabulous individual and a brilliant team player. That is the key to his improvement.

Sure, there’ll always be some degree of frustration, because he’s the kind of player who tries things that won’t come off. But now he understands the game better and doesn’t overplay. He’s capable of anything as long as he avoids serious injury, keeps his discipline and doesn’t slip back into those self-indulgent old habits.

Arsène Wenger has grabbed all the credit for developing youngsters in the past few years, but Ronaldo’s development is a tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching and man-management abilities. The kid’s own determination should not be played down. Footballers are normally lazy, they’re not good listeners or learners. Ronaldo has learnt and progressed and deserves congratulations.

I’m excited to see just how much more is to come from him.

Sportsman of the year

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Portugal's sportsman of the year ahead of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who finished third.

The honour, handed out by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, recognised Ronaldo's "contribution to the expansion of Portuguese football across the world".

Ronaldo, 21, said: "I'm very happy with what I've achieved and want to continue at this level in 2007."

Mourinho, the winner in 2004, finished behind Benfica striker Nuno Gomes.

Ronaldo was heavily criticised in sections of the British media after he appeared to encourage referee Horacio Elizondo to send off Wayne Rooney during England's World Cup defeat by Portugal in July.

His United team-mate Rooney revealed in August that "we have got no problem with each other now". And after surviving the backlash following his World Cup antics, Ronaldo has rediscovered his best form.

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, a director at Old Trafford, has been so impressed with Ronaldo, who has scored 14 goals for club and country this season, that he has tipped the Portugal player to become the 2007 Footballer of the Year.

Solskjaer Hails Revved-Up Ronaldo

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is convinced Cristiano Ronaldo's exceptional form is just a question of practice making perfect for the young Manchester United winger.

Ronaldo has put himself in line for a host of footballer of the year awards with a series of outstanding individual displays in United's increasingly convincing pursuit of the Premiership title.

His contribution has reached a thrilling crescendo over the festive period, during which he has fired two goals in each of the three games, culminating in Saturday's 3-2 win over Reading, taking his tally to the season to 12 and ensuring the Red Devils take full advantage of Chelsea's current defensive problems.

As recently as a couple of months ago, few would have been brave enough to claim United had a better young player on their books than Wayne Rooney. But it is becoming increasingly apparent they do, and, having watched the Portugal wide-man at close quarters this season, Solskjaer is not surprised.

"It is a joy to be in the same dressing room as Cristiano," revealed Solskjaer.

"He is always smiling, which just shows how happy he is. His finishing is excellent and he produces crosses which strikers only have to move to get on the end of. The thing is, he is always practising. He always stays after training for half an hour, or sometimes, an hour just practising. Sometimes I wonder if he is doing too much. I certainly cannot do that at my age."

MU 3: 1 Reading ; C.Ronaldo delivers perfect birthay present for the boss

Cristiano Ronaldo presented Sir Alex Ferguson with a perfect birthday present by ensuring that Manchester United will enter the New Year with a six point lead over title rivals Chelsea.

Ronaldo extended his recent scoring run with a second-half double as United overcame Reading 3-2 at Old Trafford on a day that saw Chelsea drop points for a second consecutive game with a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.

Ronaldo's sixth and seventh goals in his last five matches, which ensured that Ferguson will be able to celebrate his 65th birthday on Sunday in style, came after Ibrahima Sonka had cancelled out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 33rd-minute opener.

Leroy Lita claimed a late consolation strike for the visitors but they were unable to match their Boxing Day achievement, when they held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were left frustrated as American defender Carlos Bocanegra snatched a late equaliser for Fulham, the eighth goal the champions have conceded in four matches.

Chelsea had fallen behind to a rare goal from German fullback Moritz Volz in the 16th minute but got back on level terms when Frank Lampard's shot was deflected in by young Fulham defender Liam Rosenior ten minutes before the break.

A Chelsea victory looked inevitable when Didier Drogba headed in his 20th goal of the season just after the hour mark only for Bocanegra to ruin Jose Mourinho's New Year celebrations.

Ronaldo's best is yet to come

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has emerged as a candidate to become England's Footballer of the Year this season, has yet to hit his peak, according to his Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

Just six months after being English soccer's "Public Enemy No 1" for the part he played in Wayne Rooney's sending off when England played Portugal in the World Cup, Ronaldo has been a key figure in helping United establish a four-point lead at the top of the English Premiership. He has scored 10 goals this season, and both his approach play and recent scoring form have been mesmerising.

But Ferguson has warned United's pursuers that there is still more to come from the Portugal international, who he already rates as among the best players in the world. "I'm sure he's in that bracket," Ferguson told a news conference on Friday.

"He's 21 and I think he will get better. He's showing maturity that we hope all young players start to show and the realisation of their potential as they start to get older. There are very few players who can play wide and attack players like he does. Defenders are not used to handling that type of player. That's why he is such a danger."

Big bonus
Ronaldo's form is an even bigger bonus for United given that his future at Old Trafford was in doubt last summer after his involvement in the sending off of club colleague Wayne Rooney in England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal. Ferguson's support for the player was steadfast and United are now reaping the benefits as United look to hold off the challenge of Chelsea.

"We had good experience of that because David Beckham went through the same thing (being vilified after being sent-off for England in the 1998 World Cup). "He survived. The most important thing was to play well and Cristiano has done that," Ferguson added.

United face a holiday weekend double-header against Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday followed by a New Year's Day trip to Newcastle United. Between those matches Ferguson celebrates his 65th birthday on New Year's Eve but shows no signs of slowing down after chalking up 20 years in charge of United last month.

He said: "It is just another birthday, but the thing about 65 is that it is a landmark in terms that people do collect their pensions then. I am waiting for the envelope to come through the door. But I feel good and I feel fresh." Ferguson will make changes to his side for the visit of mid-table Reading, who drew 2-2 at Chelsea on Tuesday, with Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes both suspended. However, Michael Carrick is fit again following an ankle injury and will replace Scholes.

MU 3 : 1 Wigan ; CRIS ON FIRE

Buoyed by the knowledge that Reading had robbed Chelsea of two points, Cristiano Ronaldo put on a second half show to help dismantle Wigan 3-1 and send United four points clear at the top of the Barclay’s Premiership. Full report to follow...

Buoyed by the knowledge that Reading had robbed Chelsea of two points, Cristiano Ronaldo put on a second-half show to help dismantle Wigan 3-1 and send United four points clear at the top of the Barclay's Premiership.

Second-half substitute Ronaldo struck twice within five minutes of the restart to send Wigan crashing to their fourth successive defeat and enable United to capitalise on Chelsea's draw with Reading.

The timeless Ole Gunnar Solskaer was on target in the 59th minute to give United a three goal lead. A late penalty for Wigan, converted by young Leighton Baines, was the only downside to what was a sterling performance by Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville were all absent from the starting line up as Sir Alex shuffled his pack once more safe in the knowledge that, regardless of the result, United would remain top of the Premiership.

With the score 0-0 at half-time though Ferguson introduced his trump card to kick start proceedings. He could never have imagined the immediacy of the impact.

Within two minutes of the restart Ronaldo put United 1-0 up with a thumping header from an early United corner. Three minutes later he fed J.S.Park in the Wigan penalty area after fine work down the left. Park was promptly fouled right in front of referee, Mike Riley, for a stonewall penalty. Ronaldo failed to convert from the spot but made sure with the rebound.

United dominated proceedings in the first half. Wayne Rooney, rejuvenated after his rest against Aston Villa on Saturday, could easily have had a hat-tick. Wigan's Chris Kirkland was forced to make three exceptional saves from close range in the opening twenty minutes and could only watch as efforts from Rooney and Patrice Evra fizzed wide.

J.S Park and Ole Gunnar Solskaer respectively replaced on form Portugese high diver Ronaldo in midfield and club top scorer Louis Saha in attack.

Wes Brown took over from Gary Neville at right back and revelled in the amount of space afforded him. Darren Fletcher, who bossed the midfield alongside Paul Scholes released him twice down the right early on in the first half but United failed to convert their chances and despite enjoying 60% of the possession Wigan hung on to a clean sheet as Riley blew for half-time.

Ronaldo masterclass
Fletcher was pulled to make way for Ronaldo at the break. If Ronaldo hadn't produced such an emphatic impact this decision would have appeared harsh on Fletcher who had been carving open the Wigan back four with intelligent balls to Rooney and an ever advancing Brown.

But the game was transformed by Ronaldo. He was everywhere and Wigan had no answer to his trickery. Stunned by the two early goals, the coup de grace came from Old Trafford legend Ole Gunnar Solskaer.

John O'Shea won the ball in midfield and flicked it on to Rooney who out jumped Emile Heskey to feed Solskaer. With time to compose himself and pick his spot in the far corner he drove the ball comfortably home from the edge of the area.

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."

Boss : I'd pay to watch Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson claims Cristiano Ronaldo has answered his World Cup critics in the perfect fashion, by turning in world class performances this season.

The Portuguese winger has been a revelation this term, although he was the subject of unwanted media coverage at the start of December for an alleged dive at Middlesbrough.

The gaffer insists, however, that the 21-year-old has merely been the victim of a witch hunt and continues to stand by his assertion that Ronaldo did not dive at the Riverside.

"He's answered all the questions, the lad," he told his pre-Wigan press conference. "There's one blip and I think the press had a part to play in that, that was the supposed dive at the Middlesbrough game.

"But it was never a dive, he stumbled. Who would dismiss the opportunity to score an open goal? That is the one blip in the sense of people trying to accuse him of diving."

Sir Alex claims Ronaldo's evolution as a player since the World Cup has been sensational, and he struggled to think of a better entertainer in world football at the moment.

"He's matured and he's responsible," he said. "His performances have been world class and he's the one player I'd love to pay money to see play."