Cristiano Ronaldo includes Neymar and Eden Hazard in his list of top young players
Cristiano Ronaldo has picked five players from the young crop of footballing talents in the world who he believes will the superstars of the future in an interview with BT Sport.
The Real Madrid star has been at the top of the game for a decade now, winning every individual accolade in a scintillating career, that includes 3 Ballon D’Ors and European Golden Shoe for a record 4 times. Performing at his optimum is what the 30-year-old is known for, yet there is no denying, a few years down the line, the young guns of the game, will take the spotlight.
In the interview with BT Sport, the former Manchester United ace has picked the top young players he considers could potentially become great football players. Ronaldo feels his teammate Martin Odegaard would be the one to look out for, in the future. Memphis Depay, Eden Hazard, Neymar and Paul Pogba are genuine good footballers according to CR7.
“You see many players with potential, I will mention Odegaard of Madrid for example, at 16 he’s still young but you can see he’s a very good player. [Eden] Hazard for example, the No7 of Manchester [Memphis] Depay is a good player too, [Paul] Pogba and maybe Neymar,” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo talked about the Ballon D’Or and his rivalry with Messi
Ronaldo’s desire to be the best has given the fans a stirring rivalry to witness, with the Barcelona talisman Leo Messi. He spoke in the same interview of the joy of winning a Golden Ball.
“I’m always disappointed when I lose, its normal, I’m not a fake person, I’m not going to hide it when I feel disappointed. But it doesn’t depend on me, winning the Golden Ball, it depends on votes. But I’m not complaining because I’ve won three times, I never thought I would win one Golden Ball, so to win three is great, gives me great motivation to work hard and achieve more.
“I want more and more, I still have many years to play football, and I want to win more things. I’m always motivated, I don’t need other players to motivate myself.”
He also highlighted how the rivalry with Leo Messi pushes him, but no matter how much he or Messi try they won’t be the best all the time.
He said: “Messi is an unbelievable player, and maybe it pushes me more, harder to be better and better. But the people who know me, know I’m always like that, I try to be the best professional in my job, I try to be the best all the time.
"But sometimes it’s not possible because we are human beings, we are not machines. But in my mind I’m the best and I work like the best. This is the way I see my life till the end of my life, this is what I want and what I want to be.”