“That drove him on every day to be the very best” - Emmanuel Petit names key trait that has made Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest football role model
France legend Emmanuel Petit has spoken about Cristiano Ronaldo and the traits that have turned the legendary striker into the ultimate football role model. The 39-year-old Portuguese sharpshooter is easily recognized as one of the best players the world has ever seen.
Coming through Sporting CP as a teenager and joining Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, many could not have envisioned the heights Ronaldo would reach. However, to reach them and surpass them, he did.
The striker won the Ballon d'Or while at Manchester United, before moving to Real Madrid, where he won it another four times, while becoming a club legend. He broke numerous records, scoring 450 goals in just 438 games for the club.
Despite a relatively short stint at Juventus and a disappointing return to Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the biggest superstars in the world. He now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but he still plays for the Portugal national team, having scored his 900th career goal on international duty.
Emmanuel Petit recently spoke about the legend during an interview with TV Kampen (via GOAL):
“Cristiano Ronaldo can be considered the greatest role model in football history when you look at where he came from and where he is today at 39. He came from Sporting and worked step by step to be their star player and he had that ambition to stay at the very highest level for so long. He had the ambition to break all the records and achieved that."
“He has a big ego, but that ego drove him on every single day to be the very best he could. He has set the example for 15 years and I have huge respect for him. I have respect for sportsmen like that who want to get to the very top but also stay there. In terms of the mental side and physical side, what an example Cristiano Ronaldo has set.”
The legendary striker has not retired just yet, as he could break a few more records before he leaves the game. Time will tell when the 39-year-old will eventually hang his boots.
When Nigerian legend spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo's ego
Back in 2022, Nigerian legend and former Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo, referring to the forward's ego. This came after Ronaldo clashed with the hierarchy and manager at Manchester United, publicly slamming them, and seeing his contract at the club terminated.
Mikel Obi told Dubai Eye why he preferred Lionel Messi to Ronaldo (via GOAL):
“I’ve never been a Ronaldo fan, really. For me, when a player has so much ego, I don’t really get it. He’s never been one of my favourite players and that’s why I always go for [Lionel] Messi really."
The Nigerian legend conceded:
"But listen, he is Cristiano Ronaldo; he’s one of the greatest players ever to have played the game."
The legendary striker will be focused on his next game with Al-Nassr, which will take place later today (September 23) against Al-Hazm.