He won the 2008 Ballon d ’ Or for European Footballer of the year .
In 2009 Real Madrid bought him for a world record transfer fee of $ 132 million . With hindsight , Cristiano might have done better to stay at United . The team he joined was a disjointed outfit with too many stars . Even after Jose Mourinho became manager , Madrid could rarely match Barcelona . Since moving to Spain Cristiano has won just one Spanish Cup . Meanwhile Portugal has gone into decline .
Often apparently despairing of his teammates ( as his perma-frown makes all too clear ), he has become more of an individualist , shooting from all angles , but with brilliant results : it took him just over two years to notch 100 goals for Madrid . A ballet dancer built like a truck , he is the ultimate mix of power , grace and style . To move up the rankings , he needs just a couple more big trophies . Number 18 : Ruud Gullit
Born in Amsterdam in 1962 , Gullit would grow into the physically strongest of the great players . Nobody covered more ground ,