7 reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is now the player he is

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the best player in the world. He is adored by many, but hated by many more. Sometimes, and that is most of the times, he is hated for no particular reason. If he walks on water, it is because he can’t swim. If he flies like a bird, it is because he can’t walk. If he is telepathic, it because he can’t talk. If he is telekinetic, it is because he is lethargic. No matter what Cristiano Ronaldo does, there is always something bad associated with it. It is very normal for people to celebrate their birthday by throwing a party, but not Cristiano Ronaldo. When he does that, it is an act of selfishness – a sin no mortal should commit.So it is very hard to be in the shoes of this man, and here are 7 reasons why.

#1 Lost his father at a young age

Parents are somewhat of a God-like figure for a child – for they are the ones that created her/him. After all, it is the father that is responsible for sustaining the life of the child. And when someone loses that person during her/his rising age, it leaves a scar that never truly heals.

Cristiano Ronaldo loved his father, but his father’s love for alcohol robbed the former United man of his idol at a very young age. He was 20 and just taking initial steps to stardom.

As a loving son, he had hoped that his father would be there among the crowd with a huge smile on his face while seeing his son on the stage, basking in that glory. He had hoped that his father would be there in the crowd to shouting to everyone “THAT IS MY SON” every time he scored.

He had hoped for a great many things.. but it wasn’t just meant to be. When he gets up on the stage to receive an award, his eyes hover over the crowd in hope that they might see his father somewhere. But they don’t. That emptiness is always there and he has to live with it.

And that’s why he closes his eyes after receiving an award – for he then sees Jose Dinis Aveiro.

#2 Tough childhood

Growing up in his neighbourhood in Madeira wasn’t easy for the Portuguese. From that age itself, he was the best among his peers and played with guys who were years older than him. When almost-grown men see that a little kid is ripping them to shreds, they are bound to suffer pangs of jealousy.

That jealousy, in turn, pushes them to take an action. It either makes them try hard to do better or urges their dark side out and they try to bring the best down. As Cristiano was small in stature, they tried the latter for it was easier. After all, very few people in the world like to choose the tough path when an easier road exists.

So the Real Madrid man was bullied – like the Indian cricket team bullies bowlers on home flat tracks. (well, they do.)

Getting bullied can ruin one’s confidence and ability to believe in themselves. Many kids refuse to go to school because of bullying – waking up in the morning for school becomes their biggest dread, even more than facing the bullies.

But Cristiano Ronaldo was not your average kid. He rose above all of it and it made him stronger – now he is the one who bullies defenders with his sheer brilliance. It’s that dark force which made him the man he is today: that sometimes gets the better of him and he reveals his not-so-appreciable side once in a while.

#3 His unparalleled determination

This is a quality not many have, although they would probably do anything to possess it. While bullying brings the hope levels of many down, the ones who overcome it become mentally resolute – and that is what happened to Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is easier to find a rational Bangladesh cricket team fan than a stadium where this man isn’t jeered, that includes Real Madrid's very own Santiago Bernabeu. A valid reason for the hatred he gets at the most obscure stadiums in the world is hard to be found.

Perhaps it is that determination and the will to be the best that makes him so obnoxious in the irrational eyes of many. His desire to do all it takes to win, and the refusal to accept anything less than perfection, might make him seem arrogant in front of others, but are qualities that make him the player he is.

#4 Ronaldo is very talented

You don’t win the Ballon d’Or three times if you don’t have the talent – and Cristiano Ronaldo has that in abundance.

When he ran past defenders during his younger and more flamboyant days, his insane talent was apparent. Those flashy maneuvers, those mazy dribbles, that blazing turn of pace, they stole the imagination of many fans and the sleep of many defenders.

One of the reasons why young kids love him is because of that talent he possesses. In a world where talent is truly difficult to find, and hence people are pushing talentless folks (yes, Justin Bieber, we are looking at you!) – on top, the likes of Ronaldo show us what genuine talent truly is.

And it is one of the biggest reasons why it is hard to be Cristiano Ronaldo. However, talent alone isn’t enough to rise to the top – and it wasn’t talent alone that got Cristiano to stardom.

#5 Hard work and dedication

Until very recently – that is, till Karim Benzema shocked the world by revealing that he is the first to arrive and the last to leave the training facilities – the stereotype was that Cristiano Ronaldo was the most hard working on the training ground.

When the term hard working is used here, the essence is that his quality – rather than quantity – of training is what puts him above the rest.

To become a great footballer, training is an absolute must. If Ronaldinho trained with the same diligence throughout his career, he could have retired as the greatest footballer of all time. A lo of hours and proper effort in practice is what builds a player.

Talent is essential, training even more so. There are some players – like Antonio di Natale – who are not exceptionally gifted, but their hard work gives them the edge over highly talented players (like Mario Balotelli).

And when you mix gift with conscientiousness, the end product is a world-beater – and the 30-year-old is exactly that. Given the amount of lethargy that is found around the world, this is an attribute that many people lack, but Ronaldo isn't one of them.

#6 Goalscoring machine

One look at his goal stats with Real Madrid and there is only one word to describe it: insane. And it didn’t come on talent alone, it is a tapestry woven by the thread of hard work.

In this regard, only Lionel Messi is his true competitor. Once he has the ball and is in a scoring position, the next thing we see is the goalkeeper picking the ball out of the etnedr with a face as dejected.

His extraterrestrial awareness on the field almost always puts him in the right place at the right time. As years have gone by, Cristiano Ronaldo has evolved like the single-cell organism that went on to become the most dominant species on Earth.

No longer is he that player who loved showboating and tried to make a mess of defenders with tricks and flicks. He is now like a lion that waits for its prey and jumps in for the kill at just the right time.

And it is this evolution that has made him the dangerous player that he is now.

#7 The awards prove it

If one goes to Cristiano Ronaldo’s home, they will find that he has more individual trophies in his case than glass and plates and spoons.

The Ballon d’Or thrice, Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year thrice, Bravo award, PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, Barclays Player of the Year, European Golden Shoe thrice, UEFA Footballer of the Year…you probably get it by now – his individual awards list is endless.

It is easier to count the stars in the sky or the number of sand-grains in the beach, or the hypocritical comments made by Jose Mourinho, than counting the number of awards Cristiano Ronaldo has won.

Here’s a fun fact: by the time you have finished reading this article, Cristiano Ronaldo will have won 378576 individual awards. And there is nothing anyone could do about it simply because he deserves each and every one of them