However few have seen behind the scenes to study first-hand how the Portugal captain operates. Now, in a column for the BBC Jose Fonte has shared an perception into how CR7 approaches life off the pitch.
And it’s just about what you’d anticipate: press-up competitions within the bathe, restoration classes at 2am, and limitless hours within the health club.
VIDEO: Why Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is SO GOOD
Born simply over a yr aside, Fonte and Ronaldo shared a dressing room with the Portugal youth setup, Sporting Lisbon, and the senior Portugal workforce.
Their careers each started within the early 00s and spanned continents, however whereas Fonte settled into English soccer with Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham United earlier than retiring in 2023, Ronaldo staked his declare to be one of many world’s biggest – even now at 39.
Jose Fonte has referred to as Cristiano Ronaldo an ‘animal’ (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I can keep in mind us all doing ice baths and saunas at 2am due to him,” Fonte recalled. “In addition to serving to our bodily restoration, the essential factor is that we had been doing them collectively, the entire squad.
“In addition to his means, he all the time had this incredible mentality. I’d see him many occasions within the health club after coaching, attempting to get stronger and faster when everybody else had gone house.
“He has all the time needed to win, too. He was so aggressive then [that] he would say to us he would do extra push-ups than anybody else within the bathe after coaching, and naturally he would go and do it as properly.
“That drive is a part of him, and it is why he’s nonetheless right here now at Euro 2024 with Portugal on the age of 39. He’s an animal who desires to maintain on profitable and profitable. Not solely is he the most effective, he desires to show it as properly.”
Cristiano Ronaldo: THE biggest participant
Ronaldo is captaining Portugal at Euro 2024 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
That drive has led Ronaldo to nearly unprecedented fame and success: three Premier League titles, 5 Champions Leagues, two La Ligas and two Serie As – to not point out the 2016 European Championship crown.
For Fonte, that has made him extra than simply the best footballer in Portuguese historical past.
“I’m usually requested what Cristiano means to Portugal,” he continued. “Due to what he has achieved he isn’t just our biggest participant, he’s THE biggest participant. After all he’s not solely a sports activities determine both. He’s greater than that. He’s the flag of Portugal, essentially the most adopted individual on the planet and the man who can’t go wherever with out being recognised.
“It was all the time nice being with him within the nationwide squad as a result of wherever we went, everybody went to him. Everybody can be screaming ‘Ronaldo’ however we might simply stroll usually and go wherever we needed to, as a result of nobody actually cared about us!
“There are two sides to fame and I’m positive it’s not simple for Cristiano to cope with this, and never having the ability to exit wherever, however he by no means let it have an effect on him – or us.”
Extra Euro 2024 tales
Now we have the run-down on Euro 2024 stadiums, with data on host cities, capacities, and all the things it’s worthwhile to kno w
Easy methods to watch Euro 2024 dwell streams from wherever on the planet .
We even have an inventory of the Euro 2024 favourites, with greatest odds on nations to win European Championship in Germany , whereas these are the most effective Euros video games ever and these are the most effective pundits ever .
