Ronaldo could run with a ball at his feet, he had an eye for the pass, he could do pony tricks and he was accurate in shots on net, either from play or from a dead ball. But that isn’t the full range of PLAYING SKILLS, if you must shout, thats a small set of skills that tend to catch the eye of those who don’t really understand all that makes a winning team like Manchester United.

Over the long run, tackling, ball winning, breaking up attacks, and that most important of intangibles, making your team a winner are all parts of being a great player. Ronaldo was a great performer, Roy Keane was a great player. Have Ronaldo on the team sheet at the Stadia della Alpa in 1999 instead of Roy Keane and Man U have one less Champions League title.

Even Ronaldo will tell you that.

no one will ever claim that Ronaldo is more inspirational than Keane, but i’d say Keano would be the first to admit that Ronaldo’s PLAYING SKILLS are far and away better than his.

Sue Mott, The Daily Telegraph.

“It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player.”

Alex Ferguson

Nobody ever said that about Christiano Ronaldo.

so it’s – at the top *with*…

and i believe Ronaldo *can* eventually be better than Cantona, certainly Beckham.

the media spotlight comparison with Beckham at their particular ages is unfair because the intensity has *also* since increased so Ronaldo has a lot more to deal with now.

I think being foreign has a big thing to do with it, Rooney has said he don’t want to play anywhere else and if Manchester United was in sunny spain I’m sure Ronaldo will be the same.

I find it hard to imagine Ronaldo playing against Manchester United, but before he goes I’m sure we’ll have to deal with the departure of Sir Alex as well as Giggs, Scholes and Neville… that is another difficult reality and like when Cantona left we will move on, there’ll be more quality players coming along for us to argue over and sing praises.

Anderson vs Villa. Amazing by the way!!!

Ronaldo is 23. What had he done by the time he was 21? Won the FA Cup?

Beckham was in his late 20s when he started showing an interest in his life off the pitch. By the time Ronaldo was 22, he’d had a rape case (which he wasn’t convicted of), stories of him shagging several prostitutes in the press, dated a glamour model (Gemma Atkinson), and modelled for several companies.

Ronaldo has got years on Beckham and I can’t see him toning it down, particularly if he scoops the prizes for football we imagine he will. Can you imagine Ronaldo as World and European Player of the Year? It won’t be pretty in a few years.

As far as the argument that Beckham at 23 didn’t indulge in the celebrity life – Ronaldo was introduced to the first team at 18, and with Fergie giving him the no.7 and paying 12 million for him, everyone’s attention was always going to be focussed on him from the start.

I can’t fall for him though because he won’t be with us forever. We’re a stepping stone for him and whilst I can sing his praises, can be left speechless by his goals and skills, he doesn’t move me entirely. He doesn’t move me like Cantona did, Giggs did, Keane did. Maybe that will change, I don’t know, but right now, I’m not completely sold on him.

Can I see Rooney staying with us forever? Yes. Can I see Ronaldo? No. So I just can’t ever feel for him the way I have about players who I thought loved the club almost as much as I do lol.

But he’s special. No doubt about it. Everything he touches turns to gold at the moment and long may that continue!