, Nov 08, 2013 (AFP) - France's Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron was left red-faced this week when confusing Ronaldo, the legendary Brazilian striker and former World Cup winner, with his Portuguese namesake, Real Madrid star Cristiano.

Fourneyron, speakiung at a reception at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris, compounded her error when referring in a speech to next year's World Cup as "the 2016 World Cup...and its formidable ambassador, Cristiano Ronaldo".