Cristiano Ronaldo
“Don’t let small obstacles be in the way of being victorious. Remember you are stronger than the challenges you face.” Yes, we may have heard many motivational quotes like these, but only a few people say the things as they implement in their lives. Cristiano Ronaldo He has inspired people not only by his words but also by the life he has led and the things he has achieved.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who has put every ounce of his being into his record-breaking shots. He plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and leads the Portugal national team phenomenally. He is the most followed celebrity on Instagram with 230 million followers.
Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in a relatively poor family. He was bombarded with a big responsibility at the age of 16 He had to save his brother from a deadly drug addiction. His mother was a cleaner, she did not earn. It was very hard for his family to pay his brother’s medical expenses. Alcohol was the biggest evil in Ronaldo’s life. He had seen his father die right in front of his very eyes due to alcohol addiction.
Ronaldo was sent to school but he felt as if he never belonged there. as time went on Ronaldo lost interest in his studies but his passion for Football grew . Being signed up at an early age of 8 at the Ando rinha Football club, his kicks started getting strong, and playing football started to occupy his whole mind. .
At age of 8, Ronaldo and his best friend Albert Fantrau would practice football for 12 hours a day . Fantrau was also a great player and they loved playing together. One day their coach told the kids that whoever scores the most goals in their match would be given the scholarship to join the football academy in Lisbon and this opportunity would change their lives forever. this made Fantrau and Ronaldo competitors. The match was neck to neck but then something changed. Fantrau was about to win but he slow-kicked the football toward Ronaldo. Fantrau explains this sacrifice till this day by saying “ I knew Ronaldo was a better player than me, and the one who was destined to become a professional, I couldn’t take that away from him” This was the Eureka moment that changed Ronaldo’s life – but even after he got settled – he never forgot the sacrifice Fantrau made for him.
They both grew up in different environments since then – Ronaldo started making money for his skills but Fantrau grew up and could not find a job. Being a person with a kind heart and amazing character, Ronaldo bought Fantrau a house, a car, and gave him money as a “thank you” for his livelihood and all that happened on that day during the match.
Being the hero of paying back, Ronaldo has won five Ballons d’Or and four European Golden Shoes. That’s not it, he has won 30 major trophies in his career, including many famous titles. Apart from being the footballer who holds the records for the most goals, he has done a lot for charity.
Ronaldo uses his global platform as a force for good. He is an ambassador for three major charities, Save the Children, UNICEF, and World Vision, and has spoken up for countless other charities. He has a pure heart and is very humble about his charity work. He even asked Save the Children organization to keep his donation a secret.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a bright example of courage, hard work and great character. He believed in himself and his love for Football. . Now, the whole world recognises him as the football king!