'Are you f*cking kidding me?' - Gary Lineker's Match of the Day successor Kelly Cates admits to 'shame' over awkward Cristiano Ronaldo interview

Cates has worked her way up to the top in the world of broadcast media and during his first stint at Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo could not escape a brutal question from the future Match of the Day host. After scoring a spectacular backheel goal against Aston Villa in 2008, Cates asked Ronaldo whether he meant the finish while working as a reporter for Setanta Sports. His brutal response caught Cates by surprise, and she has admitted to still feeling ashamed of the question to this day.

In an interview with FourFourTwo, Cates opened up on the moment, saying: "One of the most memorable was years ago. I think it was against Aston Villa and it was pouring with rain. Cristiano Ronaldo sort of backheeled it, he did something strange. In the commentary they said, 'I’m not sure how deliberate it was' or something like that. The reason it sticks in my mind is because I did the post-match interview and asked, 'Did you mean it?' He went, 'Sorry?' I didn’t think he’d heard, but he had and he was like, 'Are you f*cking kidding me? Yeah I meant it!' It’s more the shame of it all that stays with me!"

It is easy to laugh at Cates' question now having seen what Ronaldo has gone on to achieve. The Portugal international won the first of his five Ballons d'Or at the end of 2008 and left United for Real Madrid the following year. He continued to score outrageous goals of all different kinds during his nine-year stay at Santiago Bernabeu, before moving to Juventus and later returning to Old Trafford for a second spell. Ronaldo is still going strong now at the age of 39, starring in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr.

Cates will take over from Gary Lineker on Match of the Day next season. She will be co-hosting the show with Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, with her experience in front of the camera extending to Sky Sports, where she has spent plenty of time analysing the Premier League already.