I remember vividly the overwhelming feeling of utter disappointment in June, 1998 when the referee pulled out a  red card, sending David Beckham off against Argentina just after the second half had begun. Disappointment for England, sure, but disappointment for Beckham, who was the hero of this 15-year old. Disappointment  knowing that our player was going to get blamed for England’s exit from the World Cup.

Somehow, England survived the rest of the second half and extra time, keeping the score at 2-2, and then came the penalty shoot-out. Liverpool’s Paul Ince and Newcastle’s David Batty were the ones who missed, and England were out.

Nobody could predict the fall from grace that Beckham was about to experience. England ripped him to shreds. The press singled him out for blame, fans of London clubs hung effigies and burnt them outside pubs, Beckham was booed by opposition fans wherever he played. The United faithful stuck by him, though, with banners of support seen at every game saying: “They may hate you, but Beckham we love you." Chants for him were sung over the booing and whistling he received when he touched or went close to the ball.

We had finished the season before empty-handed, and lost 3-0 to then champions Arsenal in the Charity Shield. The first game of the season was at home to Leicester, where we went in 1-0 down at half-time. Things were going from bad to worse when Leicester went 2-0 up with 15 minutes to play. We immediately made a substitution, and up stepped Teddy Sheringham three minutes later to make it 2-1. Then, in the last minute, who else could it be who salvaged something from the game but Beckham, netting the equaliser.

A month later, Beckham scored our third goal in our 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League. His goal against Wimbledon towards the end of the season earned us a valuable point, after going 1-0 down early on. And in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal, where Ryan Giggs stole the headlines with his wonder goal, it was Beckham who netted our first.

He then scored our winning goal against Aston Villa with just four games left to play, and on the last day of the season, it was Beckham who scored our first against Spurs, Andy Cole's strike crowning United as Premiership champions. Of course, that wasn’t the only trophy Beckham lifted that season, with the FA Cup and the European Cup following in the next 10 days. Yes, the famous Treble.

Now I know most will be familiar with the story of David Beckham, being the most famous player in the game, but it’s only this season that we can liken his story to another United player. In the World Cup, when Wayne Rooney got sent off against Portugal, I had the same feeling again. The same feeling of dread that yet again, a United player was going to get strung up by England. That the press were going to hound him, that the fans were going to boo and whistle him.

However, I got it wrong. I thought the blame was going to be on Rooney’s head, as in the papers the next day it was reported it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s fault England were out of the World Cup. Just like 1998, it wasn’t those who missed the penalties, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher,  who were blamed. It wasn’t the rest of the England team who had shown one spineless performance after another.

So, as we’d seen before, an onslaught of criticism was directed at a United player. Ronaldo, who had been one of four Portuguese players complaining to the referee, was handed the blame. Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous? There were plenty of reasons to dislike Ronaldo in the World Cup, namely his diving and his winning penalty, but to blame him for England’s exit is absurd.

Now let’s change the situation around, shall we? Had Ronaldo stamped on John Terry’s groin, and the surrounding England players run over to the ref, and Rooney just stood there looking on, what would England fans have thought? Would they have applauded Rooney for sticking by his Manchester United team-mate, even though he was playing for England?

Can you imagine a West Ham or Chelsea fan saying, “Well done Wayne, that’s it, stick up for Ronaldo. Don’t get involved. When representing your country at the World Cup, your loyalty to your club team-mate is far more important.” Who are we trying to kid?

Regardless, it is Ronaldo who has now faced the Beckham treatment, even with the likes of Steven Gerrard trying to stir up the hate campaign. He is booed every match, there are cheers every time a player takes his legs from beneath him, and he is currently the most fouled player in the Premiership.

However, as with Beckham, the United fans have stuck by him. He will get the loudest cheer when the team list is read out (apart from when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is playing, of course), songs are sung for him every match, and our away fans are showing up at rival grounds with Portuguese flags. What is the response from Ronaldo? Sixteen league goals (one  player has scored more) and eight assists (three players have assisted more).

Now, this isn’t to say that I think Ronaldo is going on to win the Treble this season, as Beckham did following the witch hunt after the World Cup in '98, but United are certainly heading in the right direction for success. As Beckham played a key role in 1998-1999, Ronaldo has had an even greater impact for us this season.

United need seven more wins to be crowned champions, and a victory against Middlesbrough in the Cup on Saturday would move United’s trip to the Bridge until the last game of the season. And of course, United are still in the Champions League. All is set up for Ronaldo to come out on top, despite the boos, whistles and fouls - and he’s got nine games to do it.

Can it be that United are on to another Treble? Tell us what you think at Sportingo.