Cristiano Ronaldo aims at history (cont.)

Ronaldo was a key figure in Portugal's run to the '06 World Cup semis, but the team didn't follow that performance up at Euro '08. Witters Sport/SI

World Soccer: You left Madeira at an early age. Was it hard for you to leave home so young?

Ronaldo: I left my family at the age of 11 or 12. That was a very difficult time for me. Now, nothing is a problem for me. When I moved to Manchester at 18, I didn't speak the language but it was no problem because I had experience [in Lisbon], so when I arrived there, it was not so difficult for me. My adaptation was not easy, but it was a good adaptation. It's always difficult when you're young and you have many things to learn and I am always wanting to learn. This is why I like to learn. I don't know everything about football or about my mentality. I want to learn all the time. Last season I had a great season, this season I will try to do better if it's possible.

World Soccer: How long did it take for you to settle in Manchester? Have you now reached a point where you are comfortable there?

Ronaldo: I feel happy in Manchester. My challenge is always to do better than I did the previous season. I'm quite happy there, I like the league, I like the club, but sometimes you want different things in life. You want new challenges. I don't say I want a new challenge this season, but it's always good for your mind, for your career, to have other things to do and other things to win. This is what I try to do. If I stay in Manchester, I try to do the same, I try to win the trophies again.

World Soccer: What was your dream when you were a child?

Ronaldo: When I started in Madeira, my mission was always to be a professional footballer, but I never dreamed I would be at Manchester United at 18 years old. It was amazing for me. But my ambition is always to play well. I remember when I was young the opportunities came along and I took them. I moved to Nacional and I played a few years there -- two years -- and then I went to Sporting and the opportunities kept coming. And when I arrived in Manchester everything happened very quickly.

World Soccer: Your life has changed incredibly over the past 10 years. How do you cope?

Ronaldo: Well, it's been change for the good. When you change in a bad way it's more difficult. My house is better than 10 years ago, but this doesn't change my character, my mentality, my ambitions. I'm still the same, whether I've got one million in the bank or nothing. My personality is still the same: it's to play football, to enjoy my life. This is what I try to do all the time, to enjoy life. Not because I have more money than I did 10 years ago. I don't change anything.

World Soccer: What do you think you would have done if you had not become a footballer? Did you have a "Plan B" as a child?

Ronaldo: That's a difficult question. My ambition, my focus, has always been on football. When I was 5, 6, 7, I always asked my mum for a football as a present. It was never a bike or computers or Game Boys. I never asked for any of that. It was always a football, just a football. So my ambition was always to be a professional footballer. This is why I think I am like that. I don't know what I will do in the future. My focus has always been football.

World Soccer: Is the ball still a toy? Or has it become a working tool?

Ronaldo: No -- it's still a toy!

World Soccer: It is clear that you are very close to your family. How much of your success as a footballer is down to their support?

Ronaldo: I've had support from my whole family. If my family hadn't supported me when I went to Lisbon at age of 11 then I wouldn't now be Cristiano Ronaldo the professional footballer. My mum gave me that opportunity. My father and my sister said if you want this opportunity to improve your life, try it. Maybe another family would have said no, stay here, you're young, you have to stay here with your brothers, with us. It's quite a difficult situation. I have to say my family gave me all their support, they've helped me a lot, in good times and bad times. That's why I'm here now.

World Soccer: Do you need to have a mental strength to cope with life as a professional footballer?

Ronaldo: You have to be strong mentally. When I arrived in Lisbon, for the first year I cried every week, but that's why I say my family helped me a lot. People from Sporting, my friends, directors, everyone helped me. I'm always focused on doing well in life and many people have helped me and that's why I'm where I am today.

World Soccer: Is life easier or harder playing for a club like Manchester United?

Ronaldo: Well, it's always good to play with great players. Manchester has a lot of great players. To be honest, I think you just try to do your best to help Manchester. For me every season is a new challenge. Five years ago I arrived in Manchester and I played well. Then the next season I played better; the third season better still. I've always tried to improve every season. This season I will try to do the same. It will be difficult because last season I scored so many goals and won a few things. If you have good players around you it helps. I think I am with the right club at the moment. I play with the right players. Everything is natural. I want to win again.