"I have never played against anybody like that in my life and I was so pleased to be taken off. At the start of the season, I thought Ronaldo was OK — but in the last couple of months, he has turned into a world-class player. At times, I thought he was taking the mickey and showboating, but that is just his natural game.When he has someone on the back-foot, he hurts them."
'I think he is more difficult to mark than David Beckham. He runs at you more, he's class on the ball,' said Robbie Ryan. 'Ronaldo can make it a nightmare for a full-back whereas David Beckham comes inside more to get involved.
'He's obviously a class act and he's only going to get better. I think he'll do well in Portugal. I watched him at the start of the season but the last couple of months he has been unbelievable. He's world class. He can go inside or outside or pull a trick. You slide in and he just pulls the ball back and makes it even worse. It was tiring playing against him. I was glad to be taken off. You think you have him but then he pulls a trick. He's frightening.'