Before last seasons Champions League final the winger gave an interview in shorts and flip-flops.

The assembled journalists were shocked to notice the scarring down both legs even behind where he wears shin pads.

If this player is a diver then he does it in a bramble bush.

It all began when, as a gangly youngster, he would take the mick out of older boys in the streets of Madeira with his incredible skills. They took vicious retribution.

It followed as he twisted and turned his way through the Portuguese league with opponents needing foul means to stop him.

Now it goes on in every Premier League game, in every game in Europe. Last night both Javi Venta and Sebastian Eguren went into the book for felling him.

Vicious

Then, with eight minutes left, came the most vicious foul of all and a deserved straight red.

SCARS ... Ronaldo

As Ronaldo charged through with the ball at his feet just over the halfway line, left-back Joan Capdevila dived in with studs off the ground and took the player out at the knee.

Ronaldo tumbled to the ground in agony and his assassin headed down the tunnel in shame.

Of course, as ever, the crowd took it all out on Ronaldo, chanting something in Spanish which was clearly not complimentary.

At the end of the game Ronaldo had clearly had his fill of it.

The superstar went straight down the tunnel rather than exchange pleasantries with those who had tried to kick him out the game.

Who could blame him.

As United boss Alex Ferguson said on the eve of this game: How many times can you take it? Show me someone who likes getting abused, can you point him out to me?

A great player is a target for visiting fans but its not a problem for him.