On the eve of being crowned World Player of the Year, Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo insists fame and fortune hasn't changed him. He told the Sunday Mirror: "My house is better than 10 years ago, but this doesn't change my character, my mentality, my ambitions. I'm still the same, whether I've got one million in the bank or nothing."

But he certainly enjoys a lavish lifestyle with his exclusive Cheshire home and a fleet of expensive cars.

In fact, it took less than two weeks' worth of his United wages to buy the £200,000 Ferrari he wrote off in a crash last Thursday.

"When I started in Madeira, my mission was always to be a professional footballer but I never dreamed I would be at Manchester United at 18 years old," he continued.

"It was amazing for me. But my ambition is always to play well. I remember when I was young the opportunities came along and I took them.

"I moved to Nacional and I played a few years there - two years - and then I went to Sporting Lisbon and the opportunities kept coming. And when I arrived in Manchester everything happened very quickly."

He revealed his feelings on a recent trip back to Madeira, and added: "I left my family at the age of 11. That was a very difficult time for me. Now, nothing is a problem for me.

"When I moved to Manchester at 18 I didn't speak the language.

It's always difficult when you're young and you have many things to learn and I am always wanting to learn.

"I don't know everything about football or about my mentality. I want to learn all the time. Last season was great - but this season I will try to do better."