Sporting icon of the Noughties

To be a sporting icon, you need to have several criteria.

You must be extremely talented in your field. You need to have produced fantastic displays of sporting prowess that have brought you success. You need to be the most valuable asset in your sport. And in this case of team sport you need to have brought home personal accolades as well as team triumphs. You also need to be a recognisable face, with media deals and sponsorships galore. Its just how the world works in this day and age.

For this is what makes up the true icon. He is known around the world for his achievements. And can anyone say that Cristiano Ronaldo is not world renowned?

Thats right, the portugese wonder is my choice for sporting icon of the noughties. He first emerged on the scene in 2003, when signed by Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon at only 18 years old, after impressing for the Portugese side in a friendly against the English champions.

National Icon, World Icon

Seen as a replacement for David Beckham, Ronaldo didnt exactly fulfill in that role in his first couple of seasons. He arrived with a host of tricks and fancy footwork, but delivered in patches. His scoring record was average for a right winger, with 6 and 9 goals coming in his first 2 seasons respectively. But by 2006 he emerged as one of the most talented players in the Premier League.

A boy becomes a man, a man becomes a hero, a hero becomes an icon

He began scoring regularly and became the focal point of the Manchester United attack. There is no doubt that Ronaldo reinvigorated Sir Alex Fergusons team and led them to a new period of success, winning the title three seasons in a row, and also lifting the Champions League in 2008.

Cristiano - 118 goals in 6 seasons

And 2008 stands out amongst the rest. in 2007, he scored 23 goals in all comps, including 17 in the Premiership. In 2009, he was United’s top scorer with 26 goals, 18 in the league. But in 2008 he scored 42 goals in all competitions, finishing top scorer in the Premiership with 31, and in the Champions League with 8. He won games on his own that season, and almost single handedly led United to Domestic and European glory. Much can be said about the imperious defence of Vidic Ferdinand and Evra, and of the tenacity, skillfulness and sheer unwillingness to give up of Tevez and Rooney. But take Ronaldo out of that team, and United dont win either. All this from a right sided winger.

The guy was also reliable at rising to the occasion. He has scored in the FA Cup final in 2004, the League Cup final in 2006 and the Champions League final in 2008. He scored a brace in a 4-2 win at Highbury in 2005. He scored the only goal in Porto as United became the first English team to win at the Estadeo de Dragao, a stunning 35 yard strike that secured United’s progress into the Semi finals of the Champions League, where he again scored twice in the away leg at the Emirates Stadium.

He is loved and hated in equal measure. Yes there are certainly personality flaws. He has often shown petulance towards his own team mates and his manager as well as his opponents and opposition fans. He sometimes goes too far with his tricks and turns and becomes quite arrogant. And of course, there is the 2006 world cup. People forget how good he was at that tournament because of his general knobishness. But every genius has a flaw, Cantona was violent, Maradona a druggie and a cheat and Pele has those little pills.

World Record fee

Ronaldo left Manchester United in the summer of 2009 for a world record £80 million. £80 million. An obscene amount of money for one player. Given that Zidane went for £45-£8 million (no one seems to be sure) and never scored 42 goals in a season, it can be logically argued that Ronaldo is more valuable.

Ronaldo and his paltry £56 million team mate Kaka

Internationally he has a ratio of a goal every 3 games. Again, for a right winger, an astounding record. He is so talented he is equally adept on the left of midfield and up front. He is the best all round attacking player in the world right now, and despite Real Madrid splashing millions on other players, it can be seen from their start this season that Ronaldo is their catalyst. Without him they just do not play as well. The same can be said of Manchester United.

Central

This one man is so central to his team on the field and so central off it as well. He brings in millions in merchandising. He filled the bernabeu with fans just by turning up to his own presentation ceremony.

Personality aside, the man is the most talented footballer in the world today, one of the most marketable faces. He has won every major world individual award, as well as 2 PFA player of the year awards, 2 football writers player of the year awards and 1 pfa young player of the year awards, to go with his vast collection of goal of the month, player of the month and lets not forget, championship medals.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the definition of icon.

Other contenders from my peers:

Mike with Usain Bolt

Rob with Zinidine Zidane

Josh with Federer

Alex with Lance Armstrong

Tom V with Schumacher

Alfie with Ryan Giggs

Will with David Beckham

I was going to link to Mooneys, but turn abouts fair play