Cristiano Ronaldo aims at history

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the '07-08 season with 42 goals in all competitions, four short of matching Manchester United's all-time mark. Bob Martin/SI

Manchester United and Portugal national-team star Cristiano Ronaldo recently traveled to his native Madeira to receive the ESM Golden Shoe as Europe's top goal-scorer last season. He caught up with World Soccer editor in chief Gavin Hamilton in this exclusive interview.

World Soccer: You could be the first player to win a clean sweep of Golden Shoe, Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards. How does that feel?

Ronaldo: It's wonderful to win the Golden Shoe, it's a great honor. Especially because my position is a winger. Normally strikers win this award so it's amazing for me to be part of it and to be mentioned alongside the great players. As regards the decision of FIFA, I'm not worrying about that too much. I feel very good to win the Golden Shoe, I'm very happy.

World Soccer: If you had to choose somebody, who would be the best player in the world right now?

Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo! No, not really! I don't know. Last season I was one of the most consistent players in Europe; this is why I am so comfortable. I've now won the Golden Shoe and UEFA voted me the best player in last season's Champions League. It's been amazing. You have a lot of great players in the world, but I was the most regular player last season.

World Soccer: What are the remaining ambitions in your career?

Ronaldo: I'm looking to be one of the best players ever. I'm only 23 years old, I've got lots of years left. I want to be remembered as part of the group of the greatest players ever to win awards, to win trophies, to win medals. And I want to keep going like that. I feel good, I feel in good shape and I want to win -- and not just this season but every season.

World Soccer: So does your club come before your country?

Ronaldo: I want both things. With Manchester [United] to win the Champions League again and the League and, of course, for Portugal to win something important like the Euros. It's not just my dream, it's Portugal's dream as well. We have a good spirit, we have good players, but you need to take your opportunity. You need that to win a big trophy. It's difficult but I think it's possible.

World Soccer: You wanted to receive the Golden Shoe here in Madeira. What makes Madeira so special for you?

Ronaldo: Well, I was born here, my whole family is from here. So it's always special for me to come to Madeira to see my family, to see my friends, to see everybody, and I always said that if I ever had the opportunity I would chose Madeira because it is my place, this is where I was born. ESM gave me the opportunity to choose [where I received the award] and of course I chose Madeira. It's beautiful, the people are nice and I feel very proud of Madeira.

World Soccer: Do you think you will come back here to live when you retire?

Ronaldo: Of course. My whole family is here. My mum lives here, my sisters, it's a great place, I love to come here. I don't have many opportunities to come but when I do, I love it. The weather, the people, the water, everything is fantastic. I arrived here yesterday from Manchester where the weather was very bad. When you arrive you notice the difference. It's a lovely place, not just because I was born here.

World Soccer: It seems Portugal and United have missed you. Is that true?

Ronaldo: I don't think so. Some people have been saying that Manchester and Portugal lose because they don't have Cristiano, but last season, we started badly in the Premier League and I played. I wanted to come back quickly to help my teammates, to help my team. I love to play football and when I'm not playing I feel very, very bad. Football is like that sometimes: You win sometimes and you lose sometimes. This is life, you learn from that. I believe we can win the Champions League and the league again because we have a great team and great players. Portugal is also the same. I want to come back for the Portugal national team but I think the qualifying campaign is long and we have the opportunity to do a great job.

World Soccer: Portugal has had many great players since Eusébio -- such as Fernando Gomes and Luís Figo -- but nobody has emulated him. Are you prepared for a time when you might be considered Portugal's greatest player?

Ronaldo: Of course it's important to represent my country well, but I don't need to be compared with any other players. It's amazing to be compared with these great players you mentioned but I want to be part of world football -- not just in Portugal because I am already part of Portuguese football. I want more. My ambition is to win more things and stay part of history after I have stopped playing. If I can keep going like that, things will keep coming naturally.