- 3 months ago
Go behind the scenes with Cristiano Ronaldo like never before in this exclusive CNN “All Access” interview. In this full, high-quality feature, Ronaldo opens up about his personal life, career journey, mindset, family values, and what drives him to stay at the top of world football. From his early days in Madeira to global superstardom, this is the most intimate and revealing interview with CR7 you’ll ever see.
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00:00Cristiano Ronaldo is so powerful, his skills are a bit different.
00:22Cristiano Ronaldo.
00:30Have a guy who scores 30 goals a season, it's a major factor in your season.
00:49The way that he's known everywhere across the world, it's huge, I've seen it with my own eyes.
01:00He's probably the most famous footballer on the planet. That's right, Cristiano Ronaldo has plenty of star power both on and off the pitch.
01:09Over the next half hour you'll find out everything you ever wanted to know about a player who at club level has won it all.
01:16Ahead on the show, from childhood to fatherhood, we chart the early rise of the man from Madeira and find out what Cristiano the father is really like.
01:28Honestly, how many diapers did you change?
01:32I change a few ones. I prefer to do other things.
01:35I'm sure you do.
01:37And we put him on the spot in our quick fire challenge.
01:40Last time you cried.
01:42Last time I cried.
01:43When you think Ronaldo, you think flair.
02:00And he's been flaunting it since showing up on the scene as a teenager at Sporting Lisbon.
02:04Those tricks and flicks, along with a spectacular performance in a friendly against Manchester United, earned him a $20 million move to Old Trafford.
02:15From day one, Ronaldo worked day and night to improve his game.
02:20The thing with Ronnie is, when I met him, he said, I want to be the best player in the world.
02:25And probably a lot of players say that, but he's someone who really worked on it.
02:29Ronaldo played a key role in the United team that won the 2008 UEFA Champions League.
02:36His goals and performances that season earned him plenty of individual accolades.
02:41He was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year and picked up the Ballon d'Or as well.
02:46By then, Cristiano had reached superstar status.
02:50And after six years and ten trophies in Manchester, it was time for a new challenge.
02:55Cue a world record $131 million move to Spanish giants, Real Madrid.
03:07Of course, it's a great challenge now.
03:10You know, the people know my dream is to play in Madrid.
03:14Ronaldo's move to Spain transformed him into a goal scoring machine.
03:18He netted 33 in his first season, 54 in his second and 60 in his third.
03:26According to his current coach, José Mourinho, a large part of his success comes down to his work ethic and love for football.
03:35He loves the game. He loves to train.
03:37I had in my career so many players in love with the game and I cannot say nobody more than Cristiano.
03:47Mourinho is not the only Portuguese football icon who praises Ronaldo, even though he has never won any titles with his national team.
03:55Great professional, always want to win. And like a person is a nice guy. Maybe if you don't know him, if you just watch him in the television, probably you love him or you hate him.
04:07Hate is a strong word, but there are certainly those who dislike Cristiano.
04:12His distant and sometimes petulant attitude on the pitch has led many to believe he is arrogant and conceited.
04:20People in general think that he's arrogant, that he believes he's the best and the most beautiful one in the world.
04:29Even some Real fans in Madrid find it hard to like Ronaldo as a person.
04:34As a person, I think a bit arrogant.
04:38He is conceited. Yes, I think he is too serious and should open up to people.
04:44He's still arrogant, but then if you're the world's greatest player, why wouldn't you be?
04:48So, plenty to talk about as I sat down with the man himself.
04:52We started our chat by analysing his performance over the past year.
04:57Just how good was your year 2012? Was it the best of your career?
05:01So far, maybe yes. And you know, the numbers speak for itself.
05:08We're approaching the end of the year and that means the Ballon d'Or is around the corner.
05:13Be honest with me, how much do you want to win it?
05:16A lot. This means a lot for me.
05:19So, if you were someone voting and someone would ask you, why are you going to pick Cristiano Ronaldo?
05:25And let's say, why are you going to pick Ronaldo instead of Messi? What would you say?
05:28Well, I will put everything in one bag and to see what they've done by the year.
05:41If you speak about me and Leo, who win more things, who play better, who win the most important trophies.
05:50So, I cannot say I deserve to win, but I think I'm in good position.
05:56I spoke with some journalists who voted for the last award where I was presenting in Monaco, the European Footballer of the Year.
06:04And some of them may have voted for Messi because they like Messi more than they like you.
06:11Not the football, but the image. Do you think sometimes you're a victim of that?
06:16I don't want to cry about that, but sometimes I think yes.
06:24Why?
06:26Why? It's a question that I never give 100% the right answer.
06:32Because sometimes I really don't know.
06:36Maybe sometimes I agree.
06:39Maybe I have bad image in a pitch because I'm too serious.
06:44I take serious.
06:45But if you really know me, if you are my friend, if you live inside my house, if you share the day with me, you will know that I hate to lose against my girlfriend.
06:59Sometimes we are yesterday in a pool and we do a race in a pool and I win because I don't like to lose. It's simple and that.
07:07So when they say you're arrogant, for example, what does that make you feel?
07:11The people who call me arrogant, most of them, I like, you know, one day to sit with them and to have a, you know, a shot with them to see which way they see that I am arrogant.
07:26Because they, I think they have to sit with me, to speak with me, to know who is real Cristiano.
07:32So who is the real Cristiano?
07:34Well, I will describe myself like I'm a friend of who is my friend. I hate to lose.
07:39I'm honest. I'm a direct person.
07:43So do you think you pay the price for being too honest then?
07:46Yeah, sometimes yes. Definitely yes. But this is part of my education.
07:51You won the Copa del Rey. Now you've won the league. Next has to be the Champions League.
07:58How much pressure is there on the team and how much pressure do you feel to win the 10th?
08:01It's a lot of pressure here. In Real Madrid we are always in pressure.
08:08So last year we arrived very close but we lost in the penalties.
08:14But I think it's possible. We have the best coach in the world. We have the best players in the club. So we have to think that this will be possible.
08:27And I hope we become like this year.
08:30So you think Jose is the best coach in the world? And how would you describe your relationship with him?
08:37Well, my relationship with him is perfect. I'm sure 100%, 200% that is the best coach.
08:44Because he deserves. He shows every country which is the best because he wins all the leagues.
08:52You know, I spoke with him recently and he told me that sometimes he wishes he could turn off a switch and that no one would recognize him.
09:04That he could have a normal life. Do you understand why he says that?
09:07Of course, I know. Do you ever feel like that yourself?
09:12Yeah, of course. But just now, the last five, six years, it's part of your work, your success.
09:20So the people know you and everywhere. So sometimes I wish to go somewhere to the shopping, McDonald's.
09:30Not good at the example, but to the coffee. And the people don't recognize me. But, you know, we are famous and we have to deal with that.
09:40So you do wish sometimes that you could get up and no one would recognize you?
09:44Yes, I wish. I pay for that if it's possible.
09:47Really? Yes.
09:49I will pay.
09:51Are you offering now like a... Very good, yeah.
09:54Family comes first for Ronaldo, especially now he's a dad. Coming up, the famous footballer talks fatherhood.
10:05To wake up in the morning, to see him and to say, Daddy, Daddy, it's great. I love it.
10:10It's great. I love it.
10:35Welcome back. There's no doubt about it. Cristiano Ronaldo is much more than just a player.
10:39He's an icon, a brand, if you like, and quite a popular one here at the Real Madrid club shop.
10:46But how much do people really know about Cristiano the person? Let's take a closer look at the man from Madeira.
10:55Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in the island of Madeira on the 5th of February 1985.
11:02He was the youngest of four children and soon stood out when it came to playing football.
11:09At just 12 years of age, Cristiano made his first big move.
11:14The gifted youngster flew to Lisbon to join Sporting's famed academy after being spotted by the club's scouts.
11:20It was challenging for him coming to Lisbon alone. The coaches who received him, they realized immediately that there was something different over there.
11:33And of the process, Cristiano was all the time a very focused boy.
11:39Ronaldo made his Sporting senior debut at 17, but less than a year later, he was on the move again.
11:47Manchester United came calling. His life changed on and off the pitch.
11:53Luckily, he had a manager, Alex Ferguson, who nurtured him as a player and a person.
11:58He's lucky in the sense that with people here that can tell him the truth and be straight with him.
12:05And he appreciates that. Fortunately, Ronaldo has good human qualities.
12:10He's a good guy and he knows the time of day.
12:14Having Ferguson by his side helped Cristiano deal with the death of his father in 2005.
12:19The loss of his dad due to an alcoholism related liver condition deeply affected him.
12:27Ronaldo grew homesick and that's why he backed a move closer to his native Portugal.
12:33The transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 was just what he needed.
12:38Most people at the club took to him right away.
12:43He generally is a very happy-go-lucky character.
12:46He's a real ball of energy when it comes to being with his friends.
12:49It was shortly after moving to Madrid that Ronaldo became a father.
12:53He got full custody of Cristiano Junior, the baby who was born as a result of an affair he had with a girl in the United States.
13:02Right now, he has another girlfriend, Russian supermodel Irina Shaik.
13:08As I spoke with Cristiano in Madrid, it seemed he juggled life as a star, a footballer and a father just fine.
13:15Thanks in large part, as he told me, to the continuing influence of his mother.
13:22I'm going to show you some pictures from your life important moments and I want your reaction to them.
13:28And we have to start with someone who I imagine is probably the most important person in your life, your mother.
13:35My mother is my best friend. I know yours is very close.
13:39When you look at this picture, what comes to your mind?
13:42The person who is, of course, the most important for me in my life, who gives me everything that I have, my education and all the opportunities that I have in my life.
13:55She gives me and she's always in my sight in the good moments and bad moments.
13:59When you were a kid and you were growing up and you were playing on the street, did she know you could be who you are today?
14:06No, but she always, you know, she never closed the doors. She always gives me the opportunity, you know, to follow my dream.
14:15You get to Manchester United and you work with this man for several years. What does Sir Alex Ferguson mean to you?
14:21Well, he's a fantastic person. He's a woman person, you know. He teaches me many things. He's like, like I said before, he's like a father for me in football because he teaches me many things, you know.
14:38And I really miss him because, you know, I have a great relationship with him.
14:43How mean can you get? How tough can you get in the dressing room?
14:45Very tough. I think sometimes he cannot be like that. It's not good for his heart, but he's still tough, strong.
14:55I remember him like the first day that I saw him. He's always with the same power. It's unbelievable.
15:02How much longer do you think he can go?
15:04A hundred. Easily, because he's so strong.
15:08This is a special moment when you won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Did you think about your father when you won it?
15:15Yes, about my father, my family, my sisters, my mom. Because, you know, when you win something big, it's coming always in your mind the most important people in my life.
15:32This is a picture of your mother, your son, and more people close to your girlfriend as well at Santiago Bernabeu.
15:40And I have to ask you about being a father. How is Cristiano the father?
15:43I think I'm not proud. I still learn. But I think it's the best things in life is to have a kid.
15:55How old is he now?
15:56Two. And I think it's like I live like a dream, you know, to wake up in the morning and to see him and to say, Daddy, Daddy. It's great. I love it.
16:10How involved do you get? Tell me, honestly, how many diapers did you change?
16:15I changed a few ones, but it's not...
16:18I've never changed one. How would you describe it?
16:21It's not my real challenge to change diapers. And to be honest, I don't like a lot. But I change a few ones. I think it's normal. I prefer to do other things.
16:31I'm sure you do. Like what? What do you like doing?
16:34To give him a shower, for example, is much easier. To put shampoo, conditioner in his hair. I think it's much easier. It's more fun.
16:43Mentioned your girlfriend. Here she is. You're someone who's always in the media attention. She is as well. How is it to have a girlfriend that is also quite famous?
16:50Well, it's part of the business, you know, part of the work. We are almost three years together and, you know, and I love to be with her. I love her. So it's great. I know we are both famous, but, you know, this is part. I didn't look for that. This is coming natural. So it's fantastic.
17:12I'm sure you have a lot of girls around the world who would like to be with Cristiano Ronaldo. Is it difficult to pick just one?
17:20You know, I'm... Do you see yourself getting married?
17:23Not now, but, of course, in the future, yes. Everyone wants that.
17:29I still haven't done it. I don't have the courage. I don't know.
17:32You don't have the courage. I don't have yet. But, you know, in the future, we never know.
17:35Finally, someone who's always linked with you, Leo Messi. What's your relationship with him?
17:41Normal. Professional relationship. I never had problems with him.
17:47It's always speak with me in a good way and me too.
17:52So we have good relationship and I respect him a lot and for sure he respect me a lot too.
17:57So we are professionals and he does his best for his clubs and I do the best things for my club too.
18:03Leo and Cristiano have both been scoring goals for fun in Spain.
18:09Does that mean Ronaldo prefers La Liga to the Premier League? I try to find out.
18:15Both.
18:17Really? Yeah. You're not going to give me an answer. One or the other.
18:19From an early age, Cristiano Ronaldo has had to deal with life in the media spotlight. He's had questions about every aspect of his career fired in his direction.
18:36But how would he fare in our quickfire challenge? Let's have some fun. Your favorite goal ever.
18:45Wow. Favorite goal. Quite a few of them.
18:49Yes.
18:51I remember the one you scored against Port from like 50, 40 meters now. No.
18:58One of your free kicks. Like bullets.
19:02Rocket. They call it rocket.
19:05It is a rocket. Like the tomahawk they used to call it.
19:07In Manchester United against Rome, for example. When I skied with a header.
19:13The header? I remember that.
19:15Your best moment?
19:17In football?
19:18Yes.
19:20In football, when I win... I have a few too. When I win the Champions League or when I...
19:28Let's pick that. Okay. Okay. One answer. Okay. When you win the Champions League. Okay. Okay. Lowest moment.
19:36When I lost 2004 final against Greece.
19:43Professional team. You remember?
19:45I was there. It hurt me a lot. It hurt me a lot. I can't imagine how much it...
19:50And we should have won. And I said we, because I'm Portuguese like you.
19:53La Liga or English Premier League?
19:55Putting you on the spot here, huh?
19:59Both.
20:01Really?
20:02Yeah.
20:03Really?
20:04Yeah. You're not going to give me an answer. One or the other.
20:07I have to say one?
20:09I mean, I'm not going to force you to say one.
20:11No. I say both. But if you want one, okay. La Liga.
20:15Okay.
20:17If you were FIFA president, what would you change in football? One rule?
20:21One rule?
20:22Uh, like in the rugby that they use that things if they say if it's point or not, when the ball go in.
20:32You mean the instant replay?
20:34Yes.
20:35You would add instant replay?
20:36Yeah.
20:38Who's your favorite sports person?
20:39I like it how you're really thinking about these things.
20:44Um, not Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tyson.
20:51The last time you cried?
20:53Last time I cried.
20:55Have you cried since the Bayern game? I know you cried in the Bayern game.
20:59Yeah.
21:00Was that the last time?
21:01Yeah.
21:03Yes.
21:06After your career ends, you're still thinking. After your career ends, manager, media, movies. Which one?
21:13Movies.
21:15You'd like to be an actor?
21:16Yeah.
21:17No.
21:18Not, not yet.
21:20Blondes or brunettes?
21:22My girlfriend.
21:26So brunettes, I guess.
21:27Yeah.
21:29And obviously, obviously, Ronaldo or Messi?
21:34No, of course I will say myself.
21:37Normal.
21:38Thanks for playing the game.
21:39Pleasure.
21:41Good luck with everything.
21:42Thank you, my friend.
21:43Obrigado.
21:45So, as you can see from something as simple as a quickfire challenge, Cristiano is someone
21:50who speaks honestly about topics both on and off the pitch.
21:55Maybe sometimes I agree, maybe I have bad image in the pitch.
22:02Overall, I found him to be engaging and good fun.
22:05I do admit I was surprised to hear that much like his coach Jose Mourinho, he struggled with his fame.
22:15So you do wish sometimes that you could get up and no one would recognize you?
22:19Yes, I wish. I pay for that if it's possible.
22:22Well, he can't buy anonymity and chances are he'll never have it.
22:26At least while he continues to mesmerize us with his skills.
22:29When it comes to his character, he divides opinion.
22:34But having known Cristiano for nearly 10 years, I can tell you he's always treated me with the utmost respect.
22:41Those are my thoughts.
22:42But as always, we'd love to get your opinion on the show.
22:45So please tweet me at PedroCNN.
22:47That's a wrap for Cristiano Ronaldo All Access.
22:52Wooden Arm.
22:54Home.
22:55Home.
22:56Home.
22:57Home.
22:58Home.
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