TO KNOW: Sir Alex Ferguson once attempted to withdraw from a wager on the 39-year-old striker Cristiano Ronaldo after Edwin van der Sar was eliminated, stating that penalties were irrelevant

It may be hard to believe now that 50-goal seasons are the norm, but 15 goals was a big goal for Cristiano Ronaldo back then.

Alex Ferguson set the record when the Portuguese superstar was about to start his fourth season with Manchester United. He had scored six, nine, and 12 goals from the left in the previous three seasons.

By the start of 2007, Ronaldo had already scored 12 goals, which was the same as his previous high. He scored twice in three straight games to end the year on a high note and bring home the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for Christmas.

When he won the award, the 21-year-old said, “My goal is to beat the manager, and I want to keep going; I want to score more goals.”

Ronaldo was talking about a £400 bet he made with Ferguson that he wouldn’t get to 15 goals by the end of the season.

When football started up again in the new year, Ronaldo didn’t. After scoring six goals in three games, he was held scoreless in the next two.

On the other hand, he was back in it against Aston Villa and then Watford, and Ferguson was nervous about the next game at White Hart Lane.

Ronaldo made sure he could go in with a good attitude at halftime.

In extra time, the number 7 player tricked his way into the penalty area and was then taken down by Steed Malbranque. He scored the penalty, which left his boss short-changed.

People may remember that game most for John O’Shea finishing in goal after Robbie Keane’s knee knocked out Edwin van der Sar, but Ferguson couldn’t forget about the bet.

The best post-match moment was brought up by Geoff Shreeves of Sky Sports. His answer was, “Penalties don’t count.” “Oh well, I guess I need to go to the bank.”

“It’s great, the boy is playing great. He has the guts to play, and he always wants the ball,” he would say.

“I thought he was a little careless at the start of the game, but once he got the ball, he got better by getting more of it.”

“That’s the type of player you have to serve, get the ball to him, and get him involved in the game. He can’t just stand there and watch; he has to be involved all the time.”

Ronaldo ended the season with 20 goals in all categories. Ferguson didn’t have much to say about this, even though three of those goals were penalties.

Ferguson learned from his mistakes and didn’t bet on any games the next season. Ronaldo scored 42 goals across all categories and won the European Golden Shoe.

Ronaldo became one of the best players in the world with the help of the great Manchester United manager.