Cristiano Ronaldo's Lessons on How to Have a STRONGER Mind _ Life Changing Motivational Speech 2023

Do you think what makes you different to the others, to the next rung on the ladder, if you like, of very good players, is the dedication level that you put in? I think I'm good, but I think my main strength, it's my mind. I think it's my strongest point, it's my mind. Piers, the numbers they don't like. If you see during the last 15 years, my level is always kind of the same. So, effort, dedication, work hard, because the talent is not enough anymore. And if you don't dedicate it 100%, you're not gonna reach the level that you want. For example, you arrive home, you had a lunch, you do a quick nap, and you wake up, you play with your kids, and I have to go to the gym at least 30, 40 minutes, but this will make the difference in the end of the day, you understand? If you not do that work, you miss one. The next day, it's two sessions that you lost. And I know in the end of the day, in the end, they're gonna make a huge difference. This is why I'm 34, and I look 28. When you try and give advice to these younger players, what do you say to them? What do you try and guide them to be like? I think the best advice, I'm not the kind of guy to like to give advice, it's I prefer to be as example. Yes. Because I'm an example. I'm there every morning, I do the same stuff. I'm probably the first ones to arrive and the last ones to go out. I think the details speak for itself. So, because as I told you before, they'll listen one thing, and in two minutes, they already forgot and do it whatever they think it's better. This is why I say, I like to lead by example. And some ones, they follow me, not much, but... See, I find that, I just find that incredible. That if I was a young footballer, and I had Cristiano Ronaldo at my club, that I wouldn't wanna spend every second watching him, listening to him, observing the way you go about your business. And yet, from what you're saying, clearly, they're not interested. They don't care. Some ones, yes, but most of them, no. But for me, it's not surprised me. Not surprised me because they're not gonna have longevity careers, in my opinion. It's impossible. It's impossible to see, for example, my generation, you see many players, they reach 36, 37, 38, and high level. I think this generation, you're gonna count by your hands how many gonna reach in that level. Because this years of preparation, it helps a lot. You're still scoring goals, regularly, for Manchester United. You're about the only one who eats. But then you get hit by an awful episode in your life. Probably the worst time of your life. Where your partner, Georgina, she's pregnant with twins, and is actually giving birth to these two babies. And your baby son doesn't survive. And I don't think I can imagine, I have four kids, you have a lot of children. You know, you can't imagine a worse thing to happen than to go a full term of a pregnancy. Particularly for the poor mother in that case. But also for you. What was that like for you? That time in your life? It's probably the worst moment that I've passed through my life since my father died. You know, when you have a kid that you expect that everything will be normal. And you have that problem, it's hard. You know, as a human being that I am in, Georgina and I, we had quite difficult moments. Because we don't understand why it happened to us. It was difficult, to be honest. It was very, very difficult to understand what's going on in that period of our life. As you know, the footballs carry on. They are so fast, many competitions. The football don't stop. We have many, many competitions. And pass through in that moment was probably the most difficult moment that I had in my life. Me and my family, especially Gio. That was tough. Someone said to me, what drives Cristiano Ronaldo? I don't think it's money. I think it's being the best. Beating people. It's that competitive streak. The records, the adrenaline. But, Piers, let's be honest. The last years, the football changed. I see football now as a business, to be honest. Sometimes, Georgina have expression that, I don't understand, they treat you, they treat your players like a piece of meat. I say, yes, you say everything is true. When they want you, when they count with you, they give you everything. When they don't, they try to make a hard life to you. I see football, Piers, the last years as a business. I saw many, many things that I'm disappointed. The passion for the game is still intact. But in the same way, I say, I saw other things as well, which surprised me. But in the same way, it's part of the business because if you see the world, how it is in the moment, it's all business. Everyone take on itself. Everyone, there are more. How to be a professional player? How to maintain your longevity? How, I'm not a psychologist, but I passed through many, many things and I can pass to win, how to win, which is the most important. I have experience to inspire people for that. I think I'm a role model and I can help many, many people in that way, if they want my help. I will help. They will listen to it, right? For sure, especially the young people. I want to be with the young people, to speak with them, not only for them, but for the fathers as well, to put them in the right spot. It's great. This has given me motivation to still work hard and better in my job. But I have to say, to be in my shoes is not easy, but I'm not complaining. I just want to say that I feel happy. All this happened because the reason. The reason is, I'm unbelievable inside the pitch. This is why the people have so much interest in me. Are you the best footballer in the world right now? I think so, yes. In my mind, I'm always the best. I don't care what the people thinking, what they say. In my mind, not just this year, but always, I'm always the best. I'm always going to say that, because I think we have the thinking, we are the best in our area. So in my area, I think I'm the best. Is there anything that Lionel Messi is better than you at? It's opinions. I respect the opinions. Maybe in your opinion, Messi is better than me, but in my mind, I'm better than him. It's very simple. I think the numbers, they say everything. I don't need to say, I'm a minister of football, I'm a legend. The numbers say everything, so I'm very confident. If they gave you the right offer, you could play for them or out of respect for United? You think the money is going to change my mind now? At 13 years old? I don't think so. I think this is not going to be the problem. Because if you speak about the money, I will go to Qatar. Maybe we probably have more money than Manchester City, but it's not about the money, it's about the passion. I mean, this is not fighting, but it's hard, it's healthy. You know, cooperation is healthy. And we fight, you know, to be the best. This is why it's my main point, it's my motivation. It's to be better than them. Than them, year after year. But what is the key to get better at dribbling? I'm always saying it's all package. You know, first of all, it's the talent helps a lot, of course. But of course, the ethic of work. You have to put in your mind ethic of work when you are professional. So since day one, when I start with the professional, let's say with 16, 17, 18, I'm always having ethic to be the best, to train hard, to listen to all the players, experienced players. And of course, my dream is coming true. I was professional. I played in the best clubs in the world. I won the most important trophies. So I'm glad to be in this position. But of course, this is not coming from the sky. I dedicate myself and I'm working hard. And this is why the goals and all the achievements that I get coming from dedication and hard work.