The Portugal great has explained how he
watched those at Old Trafford to become a
superstar and how he has stayed at the top of
the game for 15 years
Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the
secret to the longevity of his career, stating that
a willingness to learn and adapt has been just
as important as talent in his exploits.
At 34 years old, the Portugal international
forward shows little sign of letting up his
standards in what has been an extraordinary
career, in which he has won five Ballons d’Or,
scored 700 top-level goals and has netted an
incredible raft of trophies, including five
Champions League crowns.
Ronaldo’s journey began at Sporting CP, but it
was at Manchester United where he really made
his name – and he says that he would have
been “an slowpoke” if he failed to improve with
the type of star around Old Trafford when he
moved there.

Asked by France Football how he became such
a prolific scorer while under the guidance of Sir
Alex Ferguson, he replied: “By using my brain.
If you’ve got a little intelligence, you look and
take example from those who are doing things
better than you.
“That’s what I did when I was in Manchester
with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Ruud van
Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand… if you don’t learn
from guys like that, you’re an slowpoke.
“The goal isn’t to imitate but to take aspects
from those who are the best and adapt it to
your own personality. That’s what I did. I had
some talent and I watched them.
“Sir Alex Ferguson also taught me a lot, and I
realised I had the potential to score, not only
dribble and pass. I started to think of being a
complete player without any weakness. I could
score with my right foot, my left foot and my
head. I’m strong and I’m quick.
“If you have this and a real ethic and a good
lifestyle, you can still do it at 34-and-a-half.”
Ronaldo added that the right mentality is
absolutely essential to reach – and stay – at
the top, giving an example of his ethic.
“We faced Lokomotiv Moscow , who refused to
play and parked the bus in front of their goal,”
he said, reflecting back on the recent
Champions League match Juve played against
the Russians.
“It was hard to score. I didn’t do it and I was
frustrated at the end. That’s normal. The most
important thing is that the team wins.
“But when I went back to the dressing room, I
chilled out. After the match, I went to dinner
with friends. I got home at four in the morning.
I had a glass of iced water before bed. I slept
until 10 then I had my breakfast.
“At 11, I went to work in the gym. If you don’t
have that discipline every day, you can’t stay at
the top for 15 years.”
Ronaldo, who also spoke of the importance of
yoga and meditation in his life, revealed that his
horizons have broadened over the years and he
now takes example from those who have
enjoyed success in other sports deep into their
30s, including former NBA star Michael Jordan.
“I’ve learned from him and all those who
achieved excellence,” he said. “And I don’t just
mean in sports.
“I like to read about the Noble Prize, on what
people have invented, generated, created,
developed. The Nobel Prize for people like that,
it’s like winning the Ballon d’Or for me,” he
said. “I like to know why they’ve invented
something and how they did it. It’s important
and it’s going to help me become even better.

source: https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/ronaldo-id-have-been-an-slowpoke-not-to-learn-from-man-utd-stars-/igzika01bww81dmnvl56f3utt