Did Queen Elizabeth ask for Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt?

Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United was not only big news in football, but it was a major international story and it was even rumoured to have provoked a special request from Queen Elizabeth.

Unconfirmed reports on social media have sparked a frenzy of rumours in the last day or so, suggesting that the British monarch sent a note to the Portuguese footballer asking for his new jersey.

More specifically, the story goes that the Queen was looking for 80 Manchester United shirts emblazoned with 'RONALDO 7' to distribute among her staff. In addition, she was also after Ronaldo's first match jersey, signed, once he makes his second United debut.

If this outlandish claim is true, it would make Cristiano Ronaldo the only person on the planet that the Queen has ever asked for an autograph.

The reports seem to be unsubstantiated, but stranger things have happened. The Queen is not a vocal football fan, but is an ambassador for the sport and has expressed support for West Ham and Arsenal in the past.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a global superstar and his return to British shores could well be viewed favourably by politicians and royalty. That's not to say the rumours are true, but the fact they gained some traction perhaps tells its own story.