The 22-year-old Manchester United winger is favourite to be named the PFA Player of the Year following a gala dinner in London on Sunday night.

Ronaldo has been in awesome form for United this season, as the Red Devils remain on course for a Barclays Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble.

Having recently agreed a new, lucrative five-year deal at Old Trafford, the future is bright for the Portugal winger, who faced an uncertain future after somewhat harsh criticism in the fall-out from his part in England's World Cup demise last summer.

Pele may feel it is still "very soon" to mention Ronaldo - signed by United in a £12.2million deal during August 2003 - as one of the game's true greats.

However, Sporting Lisbon chief scout Aurelio Pereira knew right away it would only be a matter of time before he was up there with the best.

Pereira has coached at the Portuguese club for over 35 years, helping in the development of players such as Luis Figo and Paulo Futre.

He was more than impressed with an attack-minded youngster from the island of Madeira, always hungry for the ball.

Pereira recalled: "Sporting were owed money by CD Nacional after they signed a player from Odivelas FC who had played for a Sporting youth team.

"The amount was around 25,000 Euros (£17,000) and Nacional proposed paying the debt with an 11-year-old named Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Our scout in Madeira approved the deal - and I agreed after watching the player in Lisbon during a trial.

"I soon realised it was a good deal for us, despite the accountants calling me crazy.

"From the beginning I could see we were watching a potentially big player of the future."

Pereira told www.uefa.com: "What he is doing today does not surprise me at all.

"He is the kind of player who always wants the ball. Even when the coach was speaking he would not stop for a minute.

"Ronaldo was always a little bit different."

The Manchester United winger has also made the shortlist for the PFA young player award.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has seen the talents of Ronaldo at close quarters - and would not be surprised to see him scoop both accolades at the Grosvenor House hotel.

"Ronaldo must win one, if not both. He is just the most outstanding player I have seen for many, many years," said Roeder.

"I saw him recently play for Portugal against Belgium and he almost single-handedly destroyed Belgium.

"He is such a talent. Players of his ability are so rare nowadays.

"He is a players that even if you do not support Manchester United and you are an honest person, you would admire his ability and put your hand in the air and say this guy is very close to being the best player in the world at the moment."

Ronaldo's team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and 2006 winner Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, complete the shortlist.

Both Ronaldo and Fabregas will be up against England frontman Wayne Rooney in the young player category.

The United striker, 21, won the award for the past two years and is joined among the 2007 nominees by Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 23, Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, 19, and 18-year-old defender Micah Richards, of Manchester City