View source for Moments by Cristiano Ronaldo

{{infobox1 
|title=Moments 
|author=Cristiano Ronaldo  
|reviewer=Peter Magee   
|genre=Sport 
|summary=Superb pictures and interesting text, provided that you can read the very small print.  Check before you buy. 
|rating=3.5 
|buy=Maybe 
|borrow=Yes 
|pages=176
|publisher= Macmillan
|date=May 2008 
|isbn=978-0330457705
|cover=0330457705
|aznuk=0330457705
|aznus=0330457705
}}

For football fans the name of Cristiano Ronaldo conjures images of Manchester United and the famous number 7 shirt worn by the likes of David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and George Best in the past.  Originally thought of as nothing more than a nice face and hairstyle he's now proving himself to be a footballer of great talent and possibly even the best of his generation.  ''Moments'' is not an autobiography but a series of snapshots of his life.

It's good to see a footballer who, at the age of twenty three, recognises that he's not entitled to write an autobiography and what shines through in the book his love of his family and dedication to the game of football and Manchester United in particular.  There's a certain innocence too which isn't usually associated with footballers.  He's open about his publicity work and the rewards which the game has brought him.  

It's an honest book as far as it goes, rather than the usual puff which such books normally contain, although I didn't spot any reference to the incident with Wayne Rooney when he was playing for Portugal in the World Cup and was thought to have been instrumental in having Rooney (his team mate at Manchester United) sent off.  I didn't spot any mention of the temper which has, occasionally got the better of him.  There's a lot about his family, his charity work and even his advertising campaigns.

If it's pictures that you're looking for then this is undoubtedly your book.  In the 176 pages there isn't a double page spread which doesn't have at least one picture of our hero – and it's usually several.  There's even one of the soles of his feet.  They're good (the pictures, not the soles of his feet) and if this is your interest then the book is worth the cover price for the pictures alone.  

I'd love to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book but I've got a problem with it.  It's published in 'under-forties' font.  If you're over forty years of age then there's a strong chance that you won't be able to read it easily.  The traditional black print on a white page is difficult, but white print on a bright red or black page is just about impossible.  I tried to read the whole book – what Ronaldo has to say is interesting after all – but there were parts where I'll confess to having given up and turned the page. 

Eye strain aside I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

For an autobiography of another footballer we can recommend [[Left Field by Graeme Le Saux]] but if your interest is in Manchester United then why not try [[The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson]].

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[[Category:Autobiography]]
{{comment 
|name=Bernadine Thompson 
|verb= said
|comment= Today i am collecting my book on Moments. I am a great admire of the best soccer player in history.
}}