The Mean Machine

Portugal’s CR7 will play his last World Cup this month. And, at 33, football’s bad boy can still go the distance, going by his knack of pulling off the unthinkable

- Reuben Joe Joseph

There is a little-known video on YouTube, with a post-match interview of Cristiano Ronaldo from his early days at Manchester United. The teenager is awarded his first man of the match award in a United shirt and as the presenter quizzes him on his performance, Ronaldo struggles to articulate his thoughts in English.

Standing next to him is captain Gary Neville, who helps him out. At one point, the presenter asks the young lad, “Are you feeling more and more confidence with each game?” to which a shy, but grinning Ronaldo sheepishly replies “I no understand.” Neville repeats “confident” but Ronaldo says he doesn’t know what the word means and they laugh. Neville goes on to tell the presenter that Ronaldo is extremely confident.

About four years later, in 2007, Ronaldo is at another post-match interview. This time, not only is he a name on everybody’s lips, but his English has vastly improved. It is at this interview that the arrogance of Ronaldo was on full display and he gave his (in)famous quote “Why does controversy follow me? Maybe someone doesn’t like. Maybe because I’m too good.” The exchange is about a controversial penalty that Ronaldo won for his team. The question that follows his iconic sound bite is “When you hear accusations that you cheated, how do you feel?” And then, with a smug grin, he replies, “I feel good. I feel confident.” He’d learned the word and he’d learned how to live up to it.