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Renowned football journalist and commentator Guillem Balague talks about his new biography of the great Real Madrid and former Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s sporting feats are well known across the globe – the first player to win all four main Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association awards in England; winner of the Ballon D’Or or FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, 2013 and 2014; scorer of more than 500 goals for club and country; winner of three Premier Leagues and one FA Cup in England, one La Liga and two Copas del Rey in Spain, and two UEFA Champions Leagues. However, little is really known about the man off the pitch. Balague sheds light on how Ronaldo rose from his humble origins on the island of Madeira to become one of the greatest footballers ever seen and one of the most famous people on the planet.

Balague is well known as a commentator on Spanish football on Sky TV, appearing on both live match coverage and the weekly round-up show Revista de la Liga. He is UK correspondent for the Madrid sports newspaper AS and writes for The Times. His previous books include Messi, Barça and Pep Guardiola. Here he talks to fellow journalist Derek Holmes, a former editor of The Oxford Times and a lifelong Manchester United fan.

Sponsored by The Oxford Times.