We all know Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the fiercest competitors in football history. But according to his former teammate Nani, this winning mentality started way earlier than you might think. In fact, the young CR7 would literally cry if he lost a match.
Nani, who played alongside Ronaldo at both Sporting CP and Manchester United, recently opened up to FourFourTwo magazine about what the Portuguese superstar was like as a kid. The stories paint a picture of someone who was destined for greatness from day one.
"Even as a child, he stood out above the rest," Nani revealed. "He knew exactly what he wanted. Cristiano lived football with an enormous passion: if he didn't win, if things didn't go well for him, he cried."
That level of intensity might seem extreme for a youngster. But it clearly showed his commitment and how deeply he cared about the game. This wasn't just a hobby for young Cristiano – it was his entire world.
Why Nani Chose Sporting Over Benfica
Interestingly, Nani admitted that Ronaldo's presence at Sporting actually influenced his own career choice. When both Benfica and Sporting wanted to sign him, he picked Sporting partly because CR7 was there.
"It was a rather unusual situation internally with Benfica and Sporting at the same time," Nani explained. "Later, both clubs invited me to pre-season, and at first I accepted. It was crazy."
The two Portuguese talents would go on to share the pitch 130 times for club and country, combining for 14 goals. Their partnership at Manchester United was particularly memorable for Red Devils fans.
Ronaldo's Quest for 1,000 Goals
Fast forward to today, and that competitive fire still burns bright. Ronaldo is currently chasing 1,000 career goals while leading Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. His team sits in second place, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal.
For bettors watching the Saudi league, Al Nassr's tight race at the top makes for interesting value. With Ronaldo's proven track record of performing under pressure and his relentless drive to win, backing Al Nassr in crucial matches could be worth considering as the season progresses.
The Portuguese legend has built a career on never settling for second place. That little boy who cried after losses has transformed into a machine who still hates losing just as much – he just channels it differently now.
