Ferguson: Ronaldo can be a legend

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Ronaldo has already achieved plenty in his short career - appearing in the final of Euro 2004 with Portugal, lifting two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with Manchester United, plus a host of individual honours, including the prestigious Ballon D'Or.

"Pele scored in a World Cup semi-final as a 17-year-old. Maradona played for his country at 17. Cristiano was 18. All the signs are the same." said Ferguson.

"What you don't know about him, but can say about Maradona and Pele, is that their careers lasted for a number of years.

"Pele played in two World Cup finals, as did Maradona. Maybe Portugal do not have the profile to get to World Cup finals, the same as Brazil and Argentina - so you have to judge him a different way."

It means Ferguson feels Ronaldo must maintain the high levels that brought him 42 goals last year and amass major honours in the same way Ruud Gullit and Zinedine Zidane achieved to assume the mantle of greatness. He would have to do even more to be regarded in the same company as Pele and Maradona.

Yet the Scot knows Ronaldo has all the attributes required to reach those heady heights. It is little wonder then that Real Madrid have been so keen to get him - and United just as determined the Madeira-born player should stay where he is.

"Cristiano is superb," said Ferguson.

"He has timing getting into the box, ability with two feet - and you would never associate a Portuguese winger with such magnificent ability in the air. He is like an old fashioned centre-forward.

"There are a lot of things in his favour to go on and become a legend. The answers will come in the next few years."