Football legend to open museum dedicated to himself

Cristiano Ronaldo. AP FILE PHOTO

LISBON, Portugal – Footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo said Tuesday he is opening a museum dedicated to himself on the Portuguese island where he was born.

The 28-year-old Real Madrid player will use the museum to showcase memorabilia from his hugely successful career, which began in the 1990s on the island of Madeira.

Ronaldo said he would be there in person on December 15 for the opening of the museum in Madeira’s capital Funchal, which will showcase memorabilia including footballs, photographs and trophies.

He was speaking in Madeira, where he had travelled with his mother and young son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., to finalize plans for the opening.

One of the world’s footballing greats, Ronaldo began his career with the small tourist island’s local club FC Andorinha, where his father worked.

He moved to Lisbon aged 12 and was picked up by Sporting Portugal, launching his international career when he signed with Manchester United at the age of just 18.

Asked by local media in Madeira about his chances of picking up the Ballon D’Or 2013, which he is tipped to win, he would only say that a space has been reserved in case of success.

Ronaldo took the Ballon D’Or in 2008, but has since lost out three times to his arch-rival, the Argentinian Lionel Messi.