Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that “never did I think that I’d be a professional footballer” while he was growing up.
The No 7, who was born in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, had previously claimed that he experienced poverty during his upbringing, and he has now confessed that he only envisaged a successful career in his wildest dreams.
“At first, I just played [football] for fun, without thinking I had talent,” he said in a video interview with Herbalife.
“I remember always playing in the street, and one day my father told me, ‘why don’t you come to the club with me when I’m working?’, and I said, ‘sure, why not’ and started to play with the same routine.
“I started training every day and liked being part of a team.
“At first, I felt different to the other children, but never did I think that I’d be a professional footballer, one who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon.
“I watched World Cups, and that’s when I started to dream [about turning professional].”
