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,