Cristiano Ronaldo Vs. Lionel Messi - Season 07/08

Cristiano Ronaldo Vs. Lionel Messi in season 07/08. Tricks, skills, and some goals. Who is best???

Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Nationality: Portuguese
Date and Place of Birth: Born February 5, 1985 in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Playing Position: Winger / Striker
Current Club: Manchester United (English Premiership)
Previous Clubs: 1999--2003 Sporting CP
2003-- present Manchester United
International Career: 2003 -- Present Portugal

Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Nationality: Argentinian
Date and Place of Birth: Born June 24, 1987 in Santa Fe, Rosário, Argentina
Playing Position: Forward / Striker
Current Club: Barcelona (Spainish La Liga)
Previous Clubs: 2004-- present Barcelona
International Career: 2005 -- Present Argentina

About Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano Ronaldo began his football career at an early age and by the time he went to school he was hooked with a distinct passion for the sport. At barely ten years of age Ronaldo had obtained a reputation for his outstanding soccer prowess in his native country Portugal with teams such as CS Maritimo and CD Nacional vying for his signature. Ronaldo did in time sign for Nacional before moving onto the bigger club of Sporting ready to develop his footballing career.

At Sporting Ronaldo received a first-class instruction and began to hone his natural skills. He made his debut against Moreirense and scored two goals proving that he was capable of playing at the highest standards at a young age. In 2003 he came to the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, when Sporting beat the Manchester based club in the inaugural match in the Alvalade XXI stadium.

In this stunning display against Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson made the decision that he wanted Ronaldo for his team. It seemed he would be the perfect replacement for David Beckham who had departed Old Trafford for Real Madrid. Sir Alex got his wish and signed Ronaldo for a fee of £12.24 million and the Portuguese youngster made his Premier League debut against Bolton Wanderers wearing the number seven shirt made famous by the likes of David Beckham, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and George Best.

In 2005 he was named FIFA Pro Special Young Player of the Year enjoying the special honour of being the recipient of the only award that was voted for by the fans. Ronaldo continued his high standard in 2006 lifting the same award.

Ronaldo has become one of the most creative and influential players at Manchester United and has matured into a player with outstanding ability. Recent rumours have surrounded Ronaldo hinting that he may move to Real Madrid however these were quashed when the midfield maestro signed a new five year contract with Manchester United.

Ronaldo plays for Portugal and played in the 2006 World Cup. Famously in this competition he featured on the front pages of the English tabloid press when he winked in the immediate aftermath of fellow Manchester United player Wayne Rooney's sending off in the quarter final. England were eliminated from the World Cup and Ronaldo came under heavy attack from the English population which has since disappeared after Wayne Rooney publicly declared he bore Ronaldo no ill will.

About Lionel Messi:

Lionel Messi is living proof that no setback in life should keep you from following your dreams. At age 11 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency despite having played for local club Newell's Old Boys from a young age and all promising signs of a future professional football career looked lost.

Messi's parents decided that a move to Barcelona in Spain would help them find the treatment that their son needed to overcome his health problems and when they arrived in the Spanish city, the young Messi decided to try out for FC Barcelona as a 13 year old. The club were delighted with his talent and promised to pay for his medical treatment if he signed for them.

Goals swiftly followed at the rate of more than one a game for Barcelona's B team and Messi made his debut for the Barcelona full team against Espanyol only a few months after his 17th birthday, scoring his first goal against Albacete Balcompie in May of the following year.

A thigh injury late in the 2005/2006 season almost ruined Messi's chances of representing Argentina at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but coach Jose Pekerman took a chance on him and he made several substitute appearances culminating in becoming the youngest player ever to represent Argentina at a World Cup and even bagging a goal in the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.