Cristiano Ronaldo is ripped to shreds in Vanity Fair (pics + video)

Soccer studs Didier Drogba (l.) and Cristiano Ronaldo flaunt their rippling
six-pack abs on the June cover of Vanity Fair magazine. The issue features
other top football stars ahead of the 2010 World Cup. (Photos/Vanity Fair)

Soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal) and Didier Drogba (Chelsea/Ivory Coast) sizzle on the June cover of Vanity Fair, which celebrates the upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

PLAYING FOR THE WORLD

While Ronaldo, 25, and Drogba, 32, heat up the cover, other soccer stars, such as Cristiano's teammate Kaká (Brazil) and Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy/USA) appear on the inside photospread.

Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz traveled to Milan, Madrid, London, and Brooklyn to capture the elite athletes on film.

Other footballers who appear in the issue include: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan/Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan/Cameroon), Pato (A.C Milan/Brazil), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus [Turin]/Italy), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan/Serbia), Carlton Cole (West Ham United/England), Michael Ballack (Chelsea/Germany). 

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Cristiano, who is reportedly dating reality tv star Kim Kardashian, is known for his intense competitive streak and work ethic. Despite his image as a carefree womanizer, Ronaldo -- who has been playing soccer since the age of 3 -- has vaulted to the top of his profession thanks to his grueling workouts and strict diet.

Ronaldo, who won the 2008 FIFA Player of the Year award for scoring a staggering 42 goals during that season, made international news last summer when Manchester United agreed to sell him to Madrid for a staggering $131 million transfer fee, making him the most expensive player in European football history.  

Cristiano is confident he can live up to his hefty price tag. "It's a fair figure," he says. "I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the world. I'm going to try to do everything to play very well and I will show that the money they are paying for me has been a good decision."

'MY AMBITION IS HUGE'

 At 6'1" and 182 lbs., Cristiano is one of the leanest, fastest and fittest athletes to grace the world stage. Despite all his success, Ronaldo has no intention of resting on his laurels. "I want to get better and better," he says. "My ambition is huge."

Recently, he also earned high praise from Real Madrid captain Raúl, who called the Portuguese international winger down-to-earth and very nice. "[Cristiano] is super-nice, normal and very hardworking," said Raúl, 32.

Cristiano, who has made no secret of his burning ambition to be the best footballer of all time, has a bright future ahead at Real Madrid, said United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson. "His best is yet to come," said Ferguson. "He is only 24. He is better than Kaka and better than Messi. He is streets ahead of them all."

The 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa June 11 in Soweto, South Africa.

Read more on Cristiano Ronaldo:

• Cristiano Ronaldo has abs of steel and is great in bed, says ex-lover
  
• Cristiano Ronaldo rocks new hairstyle: The 'faux-hawk' is back
• Cristiano Ronaldo: My heart has been broken many times
  
• Cristiano Ronaldo lands $32.5 million Nike endorsement deal
  
• Cristiano Ronaldo flaunts rippling 6-pack in Armani underwear
• Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I can’t please everyone'
  
• Cristiano Ronaldo: My ideal woman is Angelina Jolie