Queiroz: Ronaldo was destined to become the Michael Jordan of football

The former Manchester United assistant has stressed that the attacker's success does not surprise him and expects the Madrid man to make a big impact at the World Cup

Former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz believes Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo was destined to become one of the best players in the history of the game from a young age.

Queiroz - who is now Iran national team coach - coached Ronaldo during his time in charge of Portugal between 2008 and 2010 and also worked with the prolific attacker during his two spells as assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United before his compatriot left for Real in 2009.

Messi: Ronaldo will be good for World Cup

Lionel Messi says despite the current hype around Cristiano Ronaldo, he has been “playing well for years”.

Ronaldo was pivotal to Portugal’s qualification for Brazil 2014, scoring all four goals in a 4-2 aggregate victory over Sweden last week.

The two superstars are both in line for the Ballon d'Or, and have been pitted against each other in the media recently, after Fifa president Sepp Blatter revealed – supposedly as a joke – that he prefers the Argentine.

Cristiano Ronaldo helps Portugal get leg up in World Cup playoff

He scores in the 82nd minute on a diving header for a 1-0 victory over Sweden. France's chances of qualifying for World Cup take a hit in 2-0 loss to Ukraine.

Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the battle of the superstar forwards to give Portugal the edge over Sweden in the World Cup playoffs, while France's chances of qualifying took a big hit by losing, 2-0, in Ukraine.

Ronaldo transferred his prolific scoring form for Real Madrid to the international stage, diving to head home an 82nd-minute winner and give Portugal a 1-0 cushion to take to Stockholm for Tuesday's second leg.

Bento insists Portugal will avoid defensive approach

Paulo Bento insists Portugal will not employ a defensive mentality in their FIFA World Cup play-off second leg in Sweden.

Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved the difference for Portugal on Friday as he stooped to head home Miguel Veloso's teasing cross in the 82nd minute to earn Bento's side a 1-0 win in the first leg in Lisbon.

The pre-match build up was dominated by which Ballon d'Or contender - Ronaldo or Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic - would come to the fore, and it was the Real Madrid star who put his stamp on the match.

Chelsea, Manchester United And Juventus Battle For Sporting Star

The 21-year-old has been monitored by the Premier League duo after enjoying a fine start for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league this season.

The midfielder’s bright start and potential has not gone unnoticed either with Portugal boss Paulo Bento after being called up for the crucial World Cup qualifier clash against Sweden this week.

According to talkSPORT, reports in Portugal are suggesting that it will be a three-way battle in January for his signature after Serie A champions Juventus are plotting a swoop.

Portugal Fears over Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid Star Misses WCQ Training

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo sat out training with Portugal on Tuesday, sparking fears that he might not be fit for Friday's World Cup play-off first leg against Sweden.

Ronaldo has been struggling slightly with an injury to his left foot in recent weeks, but played in Real Madrid's demolition of Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Nevertheless, the Daily Mail reports that he missed training with the national team on Tuesday—a precautionary measure with Friday's first leg in Lisbon.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says Sweden “deserve” World Cup berth over Portugal

Most world soccer fans can agree on this: it is a darn shame that between Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Portugal magician Cristiano Ronaldo, one will not be at next year’s World Cup.

Portugal and Sweden meet in one of the upcoming home-and-away playoff series starting later this week, with those oh-so-valuable berths for Brazil 2014 on the line. Translation, that is 180 minutes of the tensest soccer in which any of these players will ever participate. For the rest of us, get the snacks ready and file this under “magnificent theater.”

Ronaldo coy on Portugal booking

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to clarify whether he deliberately got himself booked during Portugal's 1-1 draw with Israel.

The result, coupled with Russia's 4-0 win over Luxembourg, means Portugal is all but certain to miss out on automatic qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup from Group F of the European section.

Portugal sits three points adrift of Fabio Capello's men with an inferior goal difference going into the final qualifiers and is likely to feature in the play-offs.

Ronaldo not in Eusebio's league, claims Figo

The Portuguese great has dismissed the possibility that the 28-year-old has done enough in the game to be compared with his esteemed compatriot.

Real Madrid legend Luis Figo has claimed it is "odious" to suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed Eusebio as Portugal's greatest ever player.

The 28-year-old recently leap-frogged the Benfica great to become his country's second most prolific goalscorer, with his hat-trick against Northern Ireland on Friday taking him to 43 international goals.

Debate has since raged over whether the current Blancos star could be considered the greatest Portuguese player of all time but Figo has refuted the suggestions, insisting Eusebio is in a league of his own.

Brazil 3-1 Portugal: Neymar stars as Scolari's men triumph

After the Canarinho went behind, the Barcelona forward set up the equaliser before scoring a stunning solo effort to put his side on their way to a comfortable victory.

Neymar was in inspired form as Brazil showed their strength of character to come from behind to defeat Portugal 3-1 at the Gillette Arena.

The former Santos man scored once and provided an assist, while also having a hand in Brazil's third goal, as the upcoming World Cup hosts recovered from going 1-0 down early on.

Raul Meireles, who had hit the woodwork six minutes earlier with a header, put Portugal in front in the 18th minute after capitalising on a defensive mistake from Maicon.