English Exercises: Short biographies: Ronaldo and Messi

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Ronaldo ï¿½(be born)ï¿½on 5 February 1985 in Santo Antï¿½nio. His mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, ï¿½(work) asï¿½a cook, andï¿½ his father, Josï¿½ Dinis Aveiro, ï¿½(be)ï¿½a municipal gardener. He was ï¿½(name) Ronaldo afterï¿½the US presidentï¿½Ronald Reagan, his father's favorite actor.

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Ronaldo ï¿½(begin) ï¿½his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he ï¿½(play) for two years, then ï¿½(move) to Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. Ronaldo's precocious talent ï¿½(catch) the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, and he ï¿½(sign) the 18-year-old for ï¿½12.24ï¿½million in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo ï¿½(win) his first club honour, the FA Cup. In 2008, Ronaldoï¿½ï¿½(win) the Champions League with United, and was named player of the tournament. The FIFAï¿½ï¿½ï¿½(name) the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year. He also ï¿½(become)ï¿½Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner in 40 years.

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On 26 June 2009, Ronaldo ï¿½(join) Real Madrid. 80,000 fans ï¿½(welcome) himï¿½at his presentation at the Santiago Bernabï¿½u Stadium. Ronaldo ï¿½(make) his Madrid debut on 21 July and he ï¿½(score) his first goal one week later.

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On 3 July 2010 he ï¿½(have) his frst son, Cristiano dos Santos Aveiro. In 2010 he also ï¿½(start) dating Russian model Irina Shayk.

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Lionel Andres Messiï¿½ ï¿½(be born)ï¿½on 24 Juneï¿½1987 inï¿½south of Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina.ï¿½ï¿½From a very early age,ï¿½he ï¿½(have) a passion for the ball.ï¿½

As a child, when I was about 8,ï¿½he ï¿½(have)ï¿½to undergo special treatment in order to have a normal rate of growth. Every nightï¿½he ï¿½(sit) onï¿½his bed and have injections inï¿½his legs.ï¿½ The problemï¿½ï¿½(be) that the treatmentï¿½was very expensive and his family couldnï¿½t afford it. His parents ï¿½(try) everything.ï¿½ In the end, it seemed like the solution ï¿½(be) in Spain, in Lerida, where some ofï¿½his relatives ï¿½(live).ï¿½His Dad was offered a job and, at the same time, it ï¿½(be) his chance to go for a trial with Barï¿½a.

Luckily, the trials ï¿½(go) well andï¿½heï¿½ï¿½(join) FCï¿½Barcelona.ï¿½ Barcelona ï¿½(sign) him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he ï¿½(move) to Spain. His family moved to Europe and he ï¿½(start) in the club's youth teams. Messiï¿½ï¿½(make) his official debut for the first team against Espanyol on 16 October 2004 when he ï¿½(be). Since then he has won many team and individualï¿½awards.ï¿½In 2009 and 2010ï¿½he ï¿½(win) the Ballon d'Or.