Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo believes his eldest son, Cristiano Jr., will outperform him in football, claiming the teenager is already physically stronger than he was at the same age.
The 41-year-old made the remarks in a video posted by Netflix Sports while seeing his 16-year-old son exercise with the Al Nassr minor team.
Ronaldo stated that Cristiano Jr. has developed physically beyond where he was at the same age.
The Al Nassr forward believes his son could eventually grow bigger and stronger than him.
“He’s a good kid. The other ones are tougher, the ones at home, the small ones. This one is no problem,” Ronaldo said.
“When I was his age, he was a little bit bigger and stronger. I was smaller. I think he will be bigger than me.”
However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner mentioned that physical development and talent alone would not guarantee his son success at the highest level.
Ronaldo was also asked if Cristiano Jr. would possess the same drive and mindset that helped him become one of football’s best players of all time.
The Portugal captain cited hunger as one of the most difficult attributes to cultivate.
“Hunger is the most difficult,” he said.
Cristiano Jr., born on June 17, 2010, presently plays for the Al Nassr youth squad, following in his father’s footsteps.
Ronaldo has had a remarkable career, earning five Ballon d’Or honors, five UEFA Champions League titles, and the European Championship with Portugal in 2016.
The experienced forward has also won league titles in England, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia and is still the highest goalscorer in men’s international football.
As Cristiano Jr. progresses throughout the Al Nassr system, the spotlight will be on whether he can develop his own career and potentially surpass his father’s incredible achievements.
