Teenagers to light up Europe

Ronaldo, though, has always seemed like the sort of rare bloom which could never have been planted in England.

Imagine if he had grown up there; you could imagine those extravagant, snake-hipped stepovers being kicked out of him in the park by coaches growling about a fancy Dan who couldn't be trusted.

Happily, though, his tricks represent the thriving of a fluid, exotic version of the game in a corner of Europe which still marks Portugal as one of the most attractive teams in the world to watch on their day.

Yet though these young masters couldn't appear more different in style and substance, the stereotype of bulldog spirit versus Latin flair just won't do. They're actually very alike in many ways.

After all, the vision, subtlety and intricacy of Rooney's flicks and firsttime passing make him every bit as much of a footballing artist as Ronaldo, while the way the United boy keeps running at defenders until he's black and blue suggest he's every bit as committed and brave as the Everton tough.

Both came to Euro 2004 with huge reputations but still much to prove after seasons where sometimes the hype surrounding them simply could not keep pace with the expectation. Both have succeeded unfeasibly well here.

Be honest: after watching Rooney looking so sluggish and out of sorts a few weeks ago, could you have really believed he would have dominated this tournament in the incredible fashion he has?

As for Ronaldo, he started the Championship as a 19-year-old makeweight but after making a major impact in each of his two games as substitute and an even greater one when asked to start against Spain, he is suddenly perceived as a potential championship winner for Portugal.

This is remarkable considering that, even after cutting Millwall to shreds to pilot United towards the FA Cup, he has never quite managed, beyond Old Trafford, to dispel the idea of the pony who looks good but doesn't win best-in-show often enough.

Ashley Cole seems to have been perpetuating the myth that if you give him a good kicking, Ronaldo will disappear. Not true, says Gary Neville. Rather he just comes back for more until he beats you.

Neville realised painfully that he was 'the real thing' the first time he encountered him on a pre-season tour with United last August.

Playing for Sporting Lisbon at the Alvalade Stadium, just a couple of kilometres from where the pair will duel tomorrow night, Ronaldo took him to the cleaners so thoroughly that Neville ended up telling Sir Alex Ferguson on the plane home that he had to sign the lad.

United have since seen real character to go with the talent.

Ronaldo is not a big city boy but a quiet islander yet he's overcome homesickness and every culture shock which has pursued him in Manchester, growing stronger match by match.

Like Rooney, he's been protected from the media limelight but what was striking here as he addressed an international press conference for the first time was his maturity.

Physically, he's no Rooney-like middleweight but he has filled out and it was a bit of shock to hear a deep, booming voice emanating from the angelic face.

He is full of surprises, not least in the way he's seemingly adding more threats to his game here, including the improved aerial ability which has marked him out as a considerable allround athlete.

What, ultimately, makes the pair seems so special at the moment is that they are playing without fear or inhibition, as if in the school playground.

"I expect to beat him several times," said Ronaldo, matter-of-fact, about Neville, making it sound like a promise not a threat.

"It's no pressure going out playing for your country. There are a lot worse things you could be doing," Rooney explained with beautiful simplicity.

Watching them, you just sense that perhaps neither will ever again play in a championship when they so completely believe in their own youthful infallibility.

It is just a shame that, for one of them, the time of their life will be over come tomorrow night.