CRISTIANO’S PING-PONG DING-DONG Rio battering shows Roni’s will to win
PORTUGAL v MOROCCO Group B: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow TODAY, 1PM BBC CRISTIANO RONALDO is a “machine” who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of greatness, according to his former Manchester United team-mate Patrice Evra.
Ronaldo, 33, lit up the World Cup with a hat-trick in Portugal’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain in their opening game in Russia.
At an age when most players are winding down, Ronaldo appears to be flourishing, becoming even more prolific as he gets older.
When he turned 30, Ronaldo had scored 52 goals in 118 games for Portugal. Since then he has plundered 32 in 33 and is showing no signs of slowing down.
His record in the Champions League is even more impressive, with 48 goals in 44 appearances since turning 30. Former United teammate Evra, who played with Ronaldo for three years, revealed the dedication that keeps the fivetime Ballon d’Or winner at the top.
“One day he was playing table tennis with Rio Ferdinand, and Rio beat him,” said Evra, working at the World Cup as a pundit for ITV.
“We were all screaming and Ronaldo was so upset.
“So he sent his cousin to buy a table, trained for two weeks at home, and came back and beat Rio in front of everyone. That is Ronaldo, that’s why I’m not surprised he wants another Golden Boot and why he wants to win the World Cup.
“This guy, he’s a machine, he doesn’t want to stop training.”
Ronaldo is only the fourth player to score in four World Cups, alongside Pele and Germany duo Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose. Portugal coach Fernando Santos hailed him the best player in the world and claimed there is no reason why he shouldn’t play in Qatar in 2022.
“More important than his physical form is his mental form,” said Santos. “He has an incredible mind and incredible physical endurance.
“He’s the best in the world and I hope in Qatar he will score in another World Cup.”
Morocco will have a tough job nullifying the threat of Ronaldo today if Portugal’s star man can maintain the level he showed against Spain. But Morocco defender Manuel Da Costa said they cannot afford to focus too much on the Real Madrid star.
“We won’t focus only on Ronaldo,” said Da Costa. “We know he’s excellent but he is surrounded by good players.”