Forward Cristiano Ronaldo once did not think he would become a football star, but he is proud to have been at the top of the football world for the past 20 years.
“I started playing football at home and on the streets when I was 7, 8, 9 years old, and everything started from there,” Ronaldo said on the Whoop Podcast on May 15. “Football was my first love. But back then, I never thought I would become a superstar. Even when I was 16, maybe later, when I was 18.”
The Portuguese forward sees his late father, José Dinis Aveiro, as the motivation for pursuing his dream. “My dad always emphasized that I had to follow my dreams,” Ronaldo expressed. “He saw my talent and encouraged me to play on the streets and for the local team, Andorinha.”
Ronaldo apprenticed at Sporting Lisbon from 1997 to 2002, then played one season for the B team and the first team. In 2003, he moved to Man Utd for a transfer fee of about 19 million USD (12.24 million pounds) and took over the legendary number 7 jersey from David Beckham. The Portuguese forward made great strides, scoring 118 goals, winning three Premier League titles and one Champions League.
Ronaldo’s career continued to soar when he moved to Real Madrid. During nine years in Spain, he won four Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and set a record with 450 goals for Real. After that, Ronaldo played for Juventus from 2018 to 2021, scoring 101 goals in 134 matches, winning two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.
In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo returned to Man Utd, but the comeback was not as successful as expected. The Portuguese forward scored 27 goals in 54 matches, did not win any additional titles, then publicly criticized the club in an interview with Piers Morgan and terminated his contract. In January 2023, Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, and has since scored 58 goals in 64 matches.
“I am proud to still be playing at the highest level at this age,” Ronaldo said. “It’s amazing and it gives me the motivation to continue. If you look at my career over the past 20 years, the level of play has always been very high. If you are at the top for 20 years, it’s unbelievable. I have done that and I continue to do that. For me, that is a great achievement.”
At 39, Ronaldo is still performing explosively with 14 assists and 53 goals in 53 matches from the beginning of the 2023-2024 season for the club and national team. The Portuguese forward leads the race for the top scorer with 33 goals in the Saudi Pro League, seven more than Aleksandar Mitrovic. Ronaldo is almost certain to become the first player to win the top scorer title in four countries, including Saudi Arabia, England, Italy, and Spain.
“My biggest motivation is to continue,” Ronaldo expressed. “It’s not easy to reach this level. Still striving, determined, continuing, scoring goals, maintaining good form, competing with young players. When they meet me, they want to prove that they are stronger and faster than me. You have to be well-prepared not only physically but also mentally. This is also a challenge.”
Ronaldo has also been successful with the Portugal national team. In 2016, CR7 contributed to Portugal’s first Euro championship. Ronaldo’s 128 goals for Portugal is currently the international scoring record. He has also won five Ballon d’Or awards in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
According to Ronaldo, besides talent and determination, the key to extending a high-level playing career is consistency. “Talent without hard work is nothing, but hard work without talent is also meaningless,” he said. “You have to balance both, and I have both. The small details make the difference. Consistency is the hardest part. Are you ready to do that? That’s the main point because everyone wants to be Ronaldo, but achieving that is very difficult. Discipline is the hardest thing. Sometimes, I have to struggle with my own mind. Of course, I don’t like going to the gym every day, no one does, but you have to do it.”
