Ronaldo plea for missing girl (3)

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tonight made his own appeal for help in tracing missing three-year-old Madeleine McCann.

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tonight made his own appeal for help in tracing missing three-year-old Madeleine McCann.

The Manchester United player made the appeal as the search continued for the toddler in the Algarve.

He told Sky News: "I was very upset to hear of the abduction of Madeleine McCann and I appeal to anyone with information to come forward, please come forward." The appeal came after it emerged that detectives probing Madeleine's disappearance are investigating British paedophiles with links to the Algarve.

Portuguese media reported that authorities in the UK have supplied detectives in the region with information on child abusers who have moved or travel there.

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The youngster, from Rothley, near Leicester, disappeared on Thursday night after she was left with her brother and sister, two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, in a holiday apartment.

Her parents, Gerry and Kate, had been dining in a nearby restaurant and checking on them regularly.

She was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Eeyore on it when she vanished.

A tourist told today how, two weeks ago, she saw a man trying to steal a pushchair at the resort where Madeleine went missing.

The holiday resort where the parents of Madeleine McCann's family continue to wait anxiously for news said today it had been overwhelmed with messages of support for them.

Mark Warner Holidays said that it had received so many messages that it had set up a special email address for members of the public who want to express solidarity with Madeleine's parents.

The company added that the McCann family were grateful to the media for respecting their privacy during this traumatic time.

While the vast majority of reporters and photographers have also left other holidaymakers in peace, a small element have taken photographs which some holidaymakers feel are intrusive.

The family urged the media to allow other holidaymakers the same privacy as they have allowed the McCanns.