In recent days, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again become a topic of debate after recent statements about his own image, made in an interview with Piers Morgan. At the same time, Rafael van der Vaart recalled, in another media context, episodes shared with the Portuguese international in the Real Madrid locker room. The two narratives, although separated in time, intersect at a common point: the way in which the Portuguese striker manages the relationship between professional dedication and self-perception.
According to the newspaper A Bola, Van der Vaart recalled a season spent alongside Ronaldo in Madrid, describing him as a dedicated colleague focused on his daily routine. The former midfielder said that he rarely saw the Portuguese player in moments of relaxation, as he was usually the first to arrive at the locker room and the last to leave.
On one of those occasions, he said he had made a joke, claiming that Ronaldo was the only player whose private parts he had never seen, precisely because of the speed with which he entered and left the facilities. According to the same source, the joke was not well received in Portugal nor by the athlete himself, despite Van der Vaart guaranteeing that there was never any personal animosity.
Discipline, performance and own standards
The newspaper writes that the former Dutch international did not fail to emphasize Ronaldo’s professionalism and the impact he had on training. Van der Vaart highlighted that the forward maintained high standards and that a goalless game used to leave him visibly upset, something that, in his view, simply reflected the constant search for performance.
The former midfielder also recognized that the difference in intensity between the two was evident, saying that, by comparison, he considered that he did not achieve even 5% of what Ronaldo presented on a daily basis.
From old joke to recent interview
He states that Van der Vaart was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent interview with Piers Morgan, namely about the moment in which the Portuguese responded to a question about beauty, comparing himself to David Beckham. The Dutchman stated that the forward was not being ironic when he commented on his own appearance.
Van der Vaart resumed his relaxed tone, stating that, “if Ronaldo were made of chocolate, he would eat himself”, reinforcing the idea that the Portuguese maintains a level of confidence that exceeds what is usual among professional players.
Aesthetic self-defense according to Cristiano Ronaldo
It should be noted that the former colleague’s statements came following Ronaldo’s interview with Morgan, where the topic of appearance came up after other questions about career, family and moments away. When asked if he was prettier than David Beckham, the Portuguese began by repeating: “Am I prettier than him?”
The player added that it all depended on perspective, arguing that both were very similar. The discussion progressed when the interviewer asked who would attract more attention in a situation where neither of them were known. Ronaldo’s answer was direct: he chose himself and concluded, in a joking tone, by saying he was “perfect”.
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