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Did Best predict Ronaldo's rise?

It feels like Cristiano Ronaldo has been at the pinnacle of world football forever, as he celebrates his 40th birthday today (Wednesday).

But a long, long time ago he was a mere exciting prospect, picked up by Manchester United as a teenager in the summer of 2003.

The Sporting tyro had tantalised us all during a pre-season friendly and Sir Alex Ferguson was also impressed with what he saw.

He had to have his man and signed Ronaldo, giving him his debut in our campaign opener against Bolton Wanderers. Cristiano put in a performance which has gone down in folklore and the rest, as they say, is history.