London, Jan. 29 : Manchester United and Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had to have a heart operation when he was 15 to save his sporting career, his mother revealed yesterday.

Doctors diagnosed the now Manchester United ace with a racing heart. It was then feared that the Portuguese winger - now 23 and World Footballer of the Year - might have to give up playing. But he was whipped into hospital for delicate laser surgery that cured the problem, reports The Sun.

"It seems the treatment allowed him to run even faster!", Ronaldo's mum Dolores Aveiro joked yesterday after revealing the secret.

Ronaldo was a promising young player with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon when the problem emerged.

Dolores, who lives on the island of Madeira, explained: "His heart raced a lot when he wasn't running.

"The people in charge at Sporting alerted me and I went to Portugal where I had to sign some papers and authorise him being treated in hospital."

Ronaldo underwent rigorous medical examinations and it was decided to operate to solve his irregular heart beat.

"Cristiano wasn't very worried - he didn't take the situation very seriously - but I got a big fright," Dolores said. (ANI)