Not only was he named European Club Footballer of the Year and Best Forward, he was also praised by the man who once ruled the world of European football.

Michel Platini, now president of Uefa, Europe's ruling body for football, praised Ronaldo for respecting his contract by not joining Real Madrid.

'I spent my life respecting contracts. It is not worthwhile signing contracts if they are not respected,' said Platini.

'In modern football, contracts are not respected: it's all bonuses and agents, it's sad.'

He added: 'It's shameful to sign a three-year contract extension and then to be transferred straight after.'

42 goals

Ronaldo scored United's goal at the Luzhniki Stadium - his 42nd in all competitions in a prolific club campaign - and although he subsequently missed in the penalty shoot-out, United bounced back to become champions of Europe for the third time.

It completed a sensational season for Ronaldo, who finished as the Champions League's eight-goal top-scorer and also claimed the ESM Golden Shoe having struck 31 Premier League goals as United retained their title.

- Wire Services.

“I’ve been making a conscious effort to get into the box because we’ve got players who can put great balls in there. I missed a few chances in pre-season so it was nice to score.” – Darren Fletcher

The Portuguese winger underwent ankle surgery after Euro 2008 and it emerged that the 23-year-old had been competing while injured for the latter half of last season.

However, media reports suggest that Ronaldo is ahead of schedule on his recovery from the troublesome knock.

South Korean international Park Ji-Sung and Owen Hargreaves also returned to training this morning, although Monday’s clash with Portsmouth comes too early for the pair.

The reigning English and European champions face a sequence of away matches in the Premier League, first at Fratton Park, then at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.