Cristiano Ronaldo - the most expensive player in football history

SAMPATH BANDARA

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo obtained a transfer to Real Madrid for the world record transfer fee of 80 million Pounds (131.2 million dollars) last week. It was the biggest financial deal for a single player in the world sports history. He also became the most expensive player in football history.

Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most outstanding football players in the world.

Brazil midfielder Ricardo Kaka got a transfer for 68 million Euros (95.42 million dollars) recently.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santo Aviro was born on February 5, 1985 at Funchal, Madeira. At the age of eight he played for amateur team Andorinha.

Ronaldo began his career as a youth player at CD national, trained at the Alochete Football Academy and at the age of 18 he signed a contract with Manchester United for 12.24 million Pounds (2003). He became Manchester United's first ever Portuguese player.

He is the only player ever to play for under 16, 17, 18, 'B' team and first team all within one season for CD National Club.

Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for Manchester United in a 6-0 win against Newcastle United at Old Trafford in January 2008. In March 2008 he captained Manchester United for the first time.

He also represented Portugal at the 2004 Olympics after he captained the Portuguese national team.

Transfer history

Transfer fees were regularly paid for players in England and Scotland in the early years of the 20th century. But the first instance of transfers came in 1925 when Torino bought Julio Libonatti from Newell's Old Boys in Argentina.

At the end of the Second World War, it was clear that the biggest resources lay with Italian clubs who increased the world record transfer fee of 500,000 Pounds when Juventus bought Pietro Anastasi from Varese in 1968.

Diego Maradona's transfers in the early 1980s were another step and the arrival of TV broadcasting rights and contemporary commercialism has sent the transfer market to a record breaking level.

In 2001 Zinedine Zidane transferred from Juventus to Real Madrid for 45.8 million Pounds.

Barcelona's Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid to 37.5 million Pounds. Lazio's Christan Vieri transferred to Internazionale for 32 million Pounds in 2002. Ronaldo obtained a transfer from Internazionale to Real Madrid for 30 million Pounds and Manchester United's David Beckham for the white shirt of Real Madrid in a deal worth a reported 25 million Pounds. The previous 12 years had seen him as the most famous footballer in the world.

Real Madrid and Manchester United...

Real Madrid of Spain is world famous for most expensive transfer deals. It is the world's second richest football club which is located in Madrid City. Founded in 1902 as Madrid FC, 'Real' means 'Royal'.

It has won 27 league titles, 17 Spanish Cups, won the European Cup in 1956, '57, '58, '59, '60, 1966, 1998, clinched UEFA Cup in 1985 and 1986 and took World Club Cup in 1960.

Club's playing kit is white shirts and shorts with blue socks.

Manchester United of England can be described as the richest sports club and most famous club in the world. Founded in 1878 as Newton Heath, in 1902 the club was named as Manchester United, playing kit is red, white and black and is nicknamed as The Red Devils.

Manchester United has clinched 11 league titles, nine FA Cups, European Cup in 1968 and European Cup-winners Cup and European Super Cup in 1991. Premiership Championship in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99 and 1999-2000.