Fergie tips Ronaldo to be world's best

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Ronaldo's efforts in the last year helped United break Chelsea's dominance in the Barclays Premiership, and the 22-year-old has also swept the board in the end-of-season awards.

"I hope he goes on to develop himself to be established as the best footballer in the world," said Ferguson. "To do it for a long time is another challenge for the boy and I think he will do that."

Ronaldo added the Football Writers' Association award for player of the year to his personal accolades for a season where he has scored 23 goals.

Ryan Giggs, who was honoured by the FWA at their tribute night earlier in the season, remembered how Ronaldo teased his current United team-mates just before arriving at Old Trafford.

Giggs got a glimpse of the Portugal winger in a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon, where Ronaldo's step-overs and tricks caught the eye.

"I was sitting on the bench for a pre-season friendly in Portugal against Sporting Lisbon nearly four years ago. I sat there in Lisbon laughing my head off," said Giggs.

"There was a kid called Ronaldo taking the mick out of our lads on the pitch. He had all the tricks and stood out as a special talent. We were talking about him on the flight back to Manchester, so there was genuine excitement when we heard we might be signing him."

Despite adding competition for places in Ferguson's starting XI, Giggs was excited by Ronaldo's signing four years ago.

"Like me, he was a winger but I didn't feel threatened by the thought of him arriving at Old Trafford - in fact my feelings were the exact opposite to that," Giggs added. "I was just delighted to see him arrive at United when the deal went through. I welcomed the signing of a special talent at the club - and that is exactly what he has proved to be."