Ronaldo factfile

2002: Makes his debut for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super Liga at the age of 17 after winning international caps for Portugals youth sides.

2003: August 6 - Scores in pre-season friendly against Manchester United.

August 8 - Completes a £12.24million transfer to United, taking the number seven shirt following the sale of then England captain David Beckham to Real Madrid.

August 16 - Makes his debut as a second-half substitute in opening-day 4-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford.

August 20 - Plays for Portugal's full national side in 1-0 win over Kazakhstan.

November 1 - Scores his first goal for United in the 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

2004: May 22 - Dazzles in United's 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall.

June 24 - Scores in the shoot-out as Portugal knock England out of the European Championships 6-5 on penalties.

July 4 - Plays in Euro 2004 final, which Portugal lose 1-0 to Greece.

2005 October 19 - Arrested and questioned by police after an allegation of rape at a London hotel is made against him. Ronaldo asserts his innocence. No charges are brought.

November 18 - Agrees two-year extension to his United contract, keeping him at the club until 2010.

2006: July 1 Protests to referee Horacio Elizondo after United team-mate Wayne Rooney clashes with Ricardo Carvalho in the World Cup quarter-final between Portugal and England. Rooney is sent off and television pictures catch Ronaldo winking towards the bench. Scores the winning penalty in the shoot-out to knock out England.

July 8 - After losing the third-place play-off to Germany, Ronaldo reveals he wants to leave United. Admits he would like a move to Spain, having been linked with Real Madrid.

July 7 - United stress there is no possibility Ronaldo will be sold.

2007: February 6 - Named captain of the Portugal team for a friendly against Brazil a day after his 22nd birthday.

April 13 - Agrees new five-year deal with Red Devils.

April 22 - Voted both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year - the first player to land the double award since Andy Gray in 1977.

May - Voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers Association as United win the Premier League title.

December 17 - Finishes third in FIFA World Player of the Year voting, behind winner Kaka and Lionel Messi.

2008: March 19 - Scores twice in a 2-0 win over Bolton - taking his tally for 2007-08 to 33 - to beat George Best's 40-year-old club record for goals scored by a winger in a single season.

April 27 - Voted PFA Player of the Year for the second year running.

May 5 - United claim Premier League title with win at Wigan.

May 14 - Real Madrid claim they have the funds to purchase Ronaldo.

May 21 - Heads United in front in Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. The game goes to penalties and, despite Ronaldo missing his kick, United win the shoot-out. Ends the season with 42 goals.

May 22 - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says he believes Ronaldo will play for the Spanish club at some point in his career.

June 2 - Ronaldo is reported to have told Brazilian website Terra that he wants to join Madrid, if they can meet Uniteds asking price.

June 6 - United report Madrid to FIFA over their pursuit of Ronaldo.

June 19 - Unable to prevent Portugal being dumped out of Euro 2008 as Luiz Felipe Scolaris team lose 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-finals.

July 7 - Ronaldo undergoes surgery on his injured ankle in Amsterdam.

August 8 - Tells Portuguese newspaper Publico he will remain with Manchester United for at least another year.

August 17 - Makes his return from injury as a 62nd-minute substitute in a home goalless draw with Villarreal in the Champions League.

November 15 - Scores 100th goal for Manchester United with the first of a brace against Stoke.

November 30 - Sent off for two yellow cards in the Manchester derby, the second caution coming after a bizarre handball incident.

December 2 - Wins the prestigious Ballon d'Or, convincingly seeing off competition from second-placed Messi and Liverpools Fernando Torres, in third.

2009: January 8 - Escapes uninjured after writing off his Ferrari sports car by crashing into a roadside barrier under a tunnel near Manchester Airport on his way to training.

January 12 - Named FIFA World Player of the Year at gala ceremony in Zurich.

May 16 - Helps United win Premier League title with 0-0 draw against Arsenal.

May 27 - Unable to prevent United losing 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.

June 11 - United accept a world-record £80m bid from Real Madrid.