The Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo has won substantial libel damages over a British newspaper's claims he put a serious ankle injury at risk by dancing the night away with four models in a Hollywood nightclub.
A Daily Telegraph article in July 2008 alleged that on arriving in Los Angeles to attend a sports award ceremony Ronaldo "headed straight" for a trendy nightclub..
The Portuguese international joined Real from Manchester United for a world record transfer fee of 80 million pounds last year.
He was said to cast aside his crutches and danced through the night while being served "10,000 pounds worth of champagne".
Ronaldo's lawyer, Allan Dunlavy, argued in London's High Court that the story was completely fabricated and caused significant embarrassment, offence and distress.
The newspaper accepted the allegations were false and agreed to pay the player substantial undisclosed damages as well as legal costs.
