Cristiano Ronaldo

You just came back from Geneva, where Messi won, and is 20/1 when using a fortuna promo code to win again this year; did you talk to him?

I don't see it as a personal battle. We talked during one moment in the game and we spoke of normal things, nothing special, just like with Di María.

What is the secret to success?

I have a very clear and defined opinion on this. You always have to believe and feel that you can become a footballer, that if you work hard and have ambition, you can get to where you want to be. We all have an opportunity in life and you have to believe in it. I started at the age of 12 with Sporting de Lisboa and everything went well for me after that, although I had to leave my family in Madeira and I cried every day. There were some very complicated moments, but I overcame them because I always believed I could become someone in this life, with the help of my family and the directors in the club.

What were your dreams?

I was a normal kid who liked to play with the older ones. I only stopped playing football when my mamá called for me to go home. Those were the happiest moments of my life, because you do things without thinking, you say what you think, you have innocence... and thanks to this childhood which I enjoyed a lot, I was able to achieve my dream of becoming a footballer. And I'm happy to be one.

Did leaving your family at that age leave a mark on you?

It was a very painful moment. I left the persons that loved me the most for a different place where no one knew me. But if I hadn't gone through this, I wouldn't be the person that I am today. That's why I'm also very grateful to my family for not holding me back.

Would you like for them to have another opinion of you?

No, I don't care. Those who shout things at me and insult me when I'm on the field are the first ones to later say, "hey Cristiano, a photo!" But I don't think it's everyone, there's a small percentage that infects the rest. These people are also stupid because they just follow along.

When you played with the older kids, did they give you more kicks than you're receiving now?

The same, because I was small, but I already did many things with the ball, the same I do now. I would get up and continue, because they were older and if I talked back to them, they would hit me [pobrecito!].

Were you very small?

Very small and very thin. I grew a lot when I was 13 or 14. That's the way my genes were.

Do you think you receive more blows than Messi?

Well, if you see my legs, you'll know the answer.