Ronaldo: I worked very hard to stay fit

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he was considered “too skinny” as a youngster by many people and this criticism drove him to become a player that he is today.

Ronaldo came to England as an 18-year-old teenager, but the Portugal skipper developed physically in his time at Manchester United before eventually departing to Real Madrid in 2009.

Ronaldo has been popular for his fitness and his physique, and the Ballon d’Or winner credited the extra hours that he puts in the gym for his success.

“You have to work so hard,” the 30-year-old winger stated in a promotional video. “I do this every day. This is why I have been at the top level for many, many years. It’s not a coincidence. I do so much extra work outside of the pitch.”

“When I was younger most people told me: ‘Cristiano, you are a very talented player but you are too skinny.’ So I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that – at the end of the day it’s down to the person’s mindset.”

“Athleticism also means a huge amount – these small details make a huge difference. So it’s very important to do this work and it’s going really well for me. That’s why I’m always in good shape all year round. I do that kind of work because I have to, it’s part of me.”

Ronaldo enjoyed a wonderful last season, in which he scored a personal-best 61 goals in just 54 appearances in all competitions for Madrid.