Ruud van Nistelrooy was born on July 1, 1976 in Oss, Holland.
He made his debut in the 1993-1994 season in the Dutch second division, with FC Den Bosch. After 4 years of playing in the second division, he was transferred to the Heerenveen club in 1997, where he scored 13 goals in 30 games in the 1997-1998 season.
His scoring ability made the club PSV Enidhoven notice him. Thus it was the day of his twenty-second birthday (in 1998) PSV paid 4.2 million dollars for his pass, which would be a record number among clubs in the Netherlands. That season he finished as a top scorer with 31 goals, and was named “Dutch Player of the Year”. After scoring 29 goals in the 1999-2000 season, he could have been signed by Manchester United, but an injury slowed the process. Even though he was injured, he was again chosen as “Player of the Year”.
Exactly 1 year after Manchester tries to sign him, the same club gets it for 19 million dollars, and since his arrival at the English club he has scored 36 goals in the first season and 44 in the second.
In the 2004-2005 season he played 27 times in the league, scoring 16 goals, and in European cups he scored 8 goals, becoming the top scorer in the Champions League.
In his entire career with United he played 219 games, and scored 150 times, being captain on some occasions.
On July 27, 2006, the signing of the Dutch player by Real Madrid was announced, with more important offers such as Bayern Munich for example.
The amount that Real Madrid pays Manchester United is 15 million euros, for three seasons.
With the Dutch National Team he made his debut on November 18, 1998, in a draw against Germany. With the selection he played 50 times, and scored 26 goals.
In the 2006 World Cup in Germany he scored a goal against the Ivory Coast, and his team was eliminated in the second round against the Portuguese team, a match in which the forward did not play.
His bad relationship with the coach made the player not be called to participate in some matches for the national team.