Talent is worth nothing if you don't work hard - Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous footballers in the world. He has broken several world records while playing for famous top teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He also plays for the national team of Portugal, in which he has done the country a great honour.
But how can one man be so incredibly good and have so much influence? Is it talent? Perseverance ? Probably a bit of everything. Ronaldo himself indicates the following:
“Talent without
working hard
is nothing.”
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo must have heard countless statements like: “Gosh, with such talent it must be easy.” People don’t stop to think about the fact that Ronaldo really had to push himself to the limit to get where he is today.
Okay, we may not all be able to become the best footballer in the world, that's a fact. But what we can do is learn from such an inspiration. Learn to draw from his lifestyle and work hard for what we really want. This can apply to anyone who wants to start their own business or pursue their passion.
Cristiano Ronaldo's childhood was anything but easy
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in 1985, in a relatively poor family in Portugal. He shared a bedroom with his older brother and two older sisters. From a young age, Ronaldo was only busy playing football. In the garden, on the street, on the football fields… his homework had to make way for it.
He certainly didn't have it easy with his parents, that much is true. His father was an alcoholic and his mother even tried to cause a miscarriage when she was pregnant with Ronaldo. He had to fight hard to stay upright and follow his dream. A beautiful quote from him that fits perfectly here:
“Stay Strong.
Be Brave.
Go Beyond.”
-Cristiano Ronaldo
He played in his youth mainly at the amateur club CF Andorinha, before moving to CD National. At the age of 12, he was included in the youth academy of the professional sports club Sporting CP.
When Ronaldo was 14 years old, he was expelled from high school. He allegedly threw a chair at his teacher. Ronaldo thought the teacher was insulting him. A blessing in disguise, because from this event the young Ronaldo decided to focus completely on football, and nothing else.
The beginning of Cristiano Ronaldo's career as we know it
In 2003, Ronaldo was only 17 years old when he got his first contract with the top team Manchester United. The contract was for more than 12 million pounds (converted more than 14 million euros). This was a record amount for someone of that age.
The funny thing is that this is purely because of a friendly match that Sporting CP had against Manchester United. Ronaldo led Sporting CP to a 3-1 victory. The Manchester United players stated: “We prefer to play WITH Ronaldo, not against him.”
He was given a hugely important role, playing on the right wing, while at Manchester United. In 2004, he scored the opening goal in the FA Cup Final, leading his team to victory.
During his years at Manchester United, Ronaldo was still fighting hard. Training until you drop. He perfected his football talent, and in 2006/2007 he developed into one of the best players in the world. In 2008 he was awarded the “World Player of the Year” by FIFA. The world was at his feet.
In June 2009, Ronaldo received a fantastic offer from Real Madrid. A record amount of 94 million euros was offered by Real Madrid to Manchester United. Then, a few months later, he insured his legs for one hundred million euros .
During his time at Real Madrid, he broke numerous records and led the team to several magnificent victories. For example, he is Real Madrid's all-time top scorer with a total of 451 goals. A true achievement, something he worked towards his entire life. He then spent a few more years at Juventus, after the negotiation for his contract ended at 105 million euros .
Ronaldo's return to Manchester United and CR7
In 2021, it became clear that he would return to Manchester United. He was given the famous number 7 shirt of his predecessor David Beckham, and he is now also known as CR7. He takes full advantage of this with all kinds of nice merchandise. People can buy shirts with CR7 on them, football boots, underwear, perfumes, and countless other things.
Ronaldo had to fight incredibly hard to get where he is today. He is immensely rich, successful and of course famous all over the world. And of course, he was born with the talent. Everyone has talent for something, but to really achieve what we want, we have to work hard. Again, the perfect quote:
“Talent without
working hard
is nothing.”
- Cristiano Ronaldo
This applies to everyone. Life is hard and full of challenges. Keep improving yourself, challenging yourself and most importantly: Don't give up . Be strict but realistic , and push your boundaries step by step.
Cristiano Ronaldo will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best footballers in the world, of all time. Personally, I can't wait to see him as a manager in 20 years. A true inspiration for anyone with a dream.
The Legends Collection is inspired by these success stories. Do you recognize yourself in “Talent without working hard is nothing.” Then take a look at our collection for a boss cap or t-shirt in today's trend colours.
