Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous football players in the world. He was born on February 5, 1985, on a small island called Madeira in Portugal. His full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.

When Cristiano was a young boy, his family was poor. But he loved football very much. He started playing football when he was only three years old. At age 12, he left his home and moved to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, to join a big football club called Sporting CP.

Cristiano worked very hard and became a professional player. In 2003, when he was 18 years old, he moved to England. He joined Manchester United, a very famous team. There, he became one of the best players in the world. He won many important competitions with Manchester United.

In 2009, Cristiano moved to Spain. He played for Real Madrid for nine years. At Real Madrid, he scored more than 400 goals! This is an incredible number. He won many trophies and became a superstar.

After Real Madrid, Cristiano played for Juventus in Italy and then returned to Manchester United. Now, he plays in Saudi Arabia for a team called Al Nassr.

Cristiano has won the Ballon d'Or five times. This is a special prize for the best football player in the world. He has also won many championships with his teams.

Cristiano is not only a great player, but he also helps other people. He gives money to hospitals and children who need help. He is a father of five children and loves spending time with his family.

Today, Cristiano Ronaldo is still playing football. He is strong, fast, and scores many goals. Millions of people around the world love watching him play.

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Glossary

**famous** - known by many people
**island** - a piece of land with water all around it
**poor** - having very little money
**capital city** - the most important city in a country
**professional** - doing something as a job (not just for fun)
**competition** - a contest where people or teams try to win
**incredible** - amazing; very hard to believe
**trophy** - a prize that winners receive
**superstar** - a very famous and successful person
**championship** - an important competition to find the best team
**prize** - something you win in a competition
**million** - 1,000,000 (a very big number)

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Vocabulary Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the words with their meanings

Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.

1. famous
2. poor
3. professional
4. trophy
5. incredible

a) having very little money
b) known by many people
c) a prize that winners receive
d) doing something as a job
e) amazing; very hard to believe

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the words below.

island | capital city | competition | superstar | championship

1. Cristiano was born on an __________ called Madeira.
2. Lisbon is the __________ of Portugal.
3. He won many important __________ with Manchester United.
4. Real Madrid won the __________ many times.
5. Cristiano became a __________ at Real Madrid.

### Exercise 3: True or False?

Read the sentences. Write T (True) or F (False).

1. Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Spain. _____
2. He started playing football when he was three years old. _____
3. He played for Real Madrid for five years. _____
4. Cristiano has won the Ballon d'Or five times. _____
5. He has three children. _____
6. Cristiano helps hospitals and children. _____

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Comprehension Tasks

Task 1: Answer the questions

Write short answers to these questions.

1. Where was Cristiano Ronaldo born?
2. How old was he when he moved to Lisbon?
3. Which English team did he play for?
4. How many goals did he score at Real Madrid?
5. Where does he play now?

Task 2: Put the events in order

Number these events from 1 to 5 in the correct order.

_____ He moved to Spain and played for Real Madrid.
_____ He was born in Madeira, Portugal.
_____ He joined Manchester United in England.
_____ He moved to Lisbon to join Sporting CP.
_____ He now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Task 3: Complete the summary

Fill in the blanks to complete the summary of the text.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a __________ football player from Portugal. He was born in 1985 on an island called __________. His family was __________, but he loved football. He moved to __________ when he was 12 years old. He played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and other teams. He has won the Ballon d'Or __________ times. He also helps other people and has __________ children.

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Answer Key

Exercise 1: Match the words with their meanings

1. b (famous = known by many people)
2. a (poor = having very little money)
3. d (professional = doing something as a job)
4. c (trophy = a prize that winners receive)
5. e (incredible = amazing; very hard to believe)

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

1. island
2. capital city
3. competitions
4. championship
5. superstar

Exercise 3: True or False?

1. F (He was born in Portugal, on the island of Madeira)
2. T
3. F (He played for Real Madrid for nine years)
4. T
5. F (He has five children)
6. T

Task 1: Answer the questions
1. He was born in Madeira, Portugal. / On the island of Madeira in Portugal.
2. He was 12 years old.
3. Manchester United.
4. More than 400 goals.
5. He plays in Saudi Arabia / for Al Nassr.

Task 2: Put the events in order
3 - He moved to Spain and played for Real Madrid.
1 - He was born in Madeira, Portugal.
2 - He joined Manchester United in England.
4 - He moved to Lisbon to join Sporting CP. (Note: This should be 2, and Manchester United should be 3)

**Correct order:**
2 - He was born in Madeira, Portugal.
1 - He moved to Lisbon to join Sporting CP.
3 - He joined Manchester United in England.
4 - He moved to Spain and played for Real Madrid.
5 - He now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Task 3: Complete the summary
Cristiano Ronaldo is a **famous** football player from Portugal. He was born in 1985 on an island called **Madeira**. His family was **poor**, but he loved football. He moved to **Lisbon** when he was 12 years old. He played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and other teams. He has won the Ballon d'Or **five** times. He also helps other people and has **five** children.

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