-- PHOTO: AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo has sparked more talk that he plays for the other side by partying with American gay pop star Lance Bass.

The Portuguese footballer, the highest paid in the world, enjoyed a wild night out with the *NSYNC singer in Tribeca, New York's gay district, last Wednesday.

The 25-year-old has been slammed for jetting off to the Big Apple after his poor showing at the World Cup.

He left after revealing that he had paid a woman to give birth to his baby, but sparked fury by leaving his son with relatives in Portugal.

Eyebrows were raised when he became a father with a surrogate mother, and not his girlfriend.

In New York, he met up with his Russian lingerie model girlfriend Irinia Shayk, 24, but reignited the 'nudge-nudge, wink-wink' whispers when he hit the town with Bass, 31.

Ronaldo hid his face as the two men strolled into a chic eaterie. A witness told the Daily Star: 'Cristiano seemed very happy. Lance looked like the cat with the cream to be up close and personal with a hunk lusted after by the gay community.'

The footballer has long been the subject of gay rumours. He likes to wax his chest, enjoys mega-tans and has no qualms posing in his underwear.

He recently commended Portugal's decision to allow gay marriages, saying: 'We must respect the choices of each other, because all citizens should have the same rights and responsibilities.'

However, he has dismissed speculation that he is gay, saying: 'I'm at ease with my sexuality, so it's not a problem for me.'