Danny Simpson has a Premier League winners' medal in his collection but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who helped him on a date with Miss California.
In 2015/16 Simpson won the league in fairytale fashion with Leicester City, who lifted the title despite the odds being stacked against them.
They were favourites for relegation at the start of the campaign and you would have got odds of 5000/1 for them to do the unthinkable.
Advert
After playing 30 times in the triumph, Simpson was part of the Foxes squad who travelled to Los Angeles for a pre-season tour.
They were rubbing shoulders with the likes of PSG in friendlies and while he was there, Simpson somehow had a date set up with a former Miss California winner courtesy of a friend.
He left the team hotel without anyone knowing and turned up at a steak restaurant in the centre of the city. The chemistry wasn't quite there but then Ronaldo, one of the most famous people in the world, surprised him.
Advert
Simpson played with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner at Manchester United, where he came through the ranks before making a handful of appearances.
At the time, Ronaldo had just come off the back of winning the European Championship with Portugal and came over to see his ex teammate.
"Meets Miss California right, start having dinner and I swear to god it was going w**k," Simpson said on the Under the Cosh podcast.
Advert
"She must've been thinking: 'who's this lad, I can't understand what he's saying he's from Salford'.
"It was painful right, but anyway it weren't going great and I got a little tap on my shoulder. I've looked up and it's only (Cristiano) Ronaldo. He's gone 'Simmo' and I've gone 'Ronny!'
"I've got up and given him a little hug and that. Anyway we had a little chat because we're obviously in pre-season and he's won the Euros (with Portugal) so he's on an extended break."
Advert
"As soon as his interaction with Ronaldo finished, Simpson's fortunes changed dramatically and he claims his date's demeanor was very different.
"I've sat back down and she's gone 'how do you know Ronaldo?'
"I've played it down and said 'I used to play with him' like it was nothing. From that second she completely changed.
"Honestly it was literally a completely different person all because Ronaldo said hello to me so cheers Ronny."
Advert
Simpson played three times for United in the 2007/08 campaign and recently revealed Gary Neville negotiated his contract with Sir Alex Ferguson.
His last club was Bristol City, where he linked up with former manager Nigel Pearson.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Premier League
Josh Lawless