It’s been six years since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, but he remains one of the most influential players at the club.
After joining the Spanish club from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world-record fee of £80 million, Ronaldo has become Los Blancos’ all-time top scorer with 438 goals in 450 games.
CR7’s stats will certainly go down in history. But his professionalism and relentless dedication continue to be the benchmark at Valdebebas, especially with the younger generation.
In fact, Spanish magazine AS claim that Real Madrid’s current players are adopting the ‘Cristiano Method’ to improve everything from nutrition to professionalism in training.
“Since Ronaldo arrived in the summer of 2009, he has created a cultural change that goes beyond the sporting sphere,” AS reports.
Vinicius, Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler and Endrick are said to have grown up admiring Ronaldo, and the Portuguese legend’s influence has been evident in recent weeks.
Instead of relaxing this summer, all of the above have been training hard during their holidays, adopting the so-called ‘Cristiano Method’ to avoid losing strength ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Real Madrid players adopt Ronaldo’s disciplined training method (Photo: Madrid Zone).
“Cristiano’s legacy is built from the starters to the substitutes. Carlo Ancelotti’s players who rarely play have the mentality of being ready when the situation calls for it,” AS added.
Perhaps the biggest sign of Ronaldo’s continued influence was the admission made by new signing Endrick at his unveiling:
“I didn’t mean it, but I’ve loved Real Madrid since I was a kid. I watched Cristiano Ronaldo and because of him I wanted to know a little more about Real Madrid,” the Brazilian striker shared.
Speaking to A Bola about Ronaldo’s influence, Endrick said: “He is my biggest idol, a player who broke all records by being an exemplary and dedicated star.”
“He is not only an athlete, but also a guy that everyone should look up to, because no matter what the moment, Ronaldo wants to be the best, he wants to win titles, Ronaldo wants to achieve milestones, besides being a humble person.”
