If you want to be the best, you’ve got to shower with the best and then prove you are stronger and fitter than them all.
Jose Fonte has been Cristiano Ronaldo’s friend for the best part of two decades.
The Portuguese international find came across Ronaldo, a year his junior, when the pair first met at Sports Club de Portugal [Sporting Lisbon].
In an interview with The Telegraph, ahead of Portugal’s quarter final clash with Poland, Fonte gives a fascinating insight into the work ethic that has constantly set him apart. He told Jeremy Wilson:
“I love Messi but Ronaldo is Ronaldo. He was only young and I saw him millions of times in the gym, after training, when everyone else had gone home trying to get stronger, trying to be quicker. His work ethic and desire to be the best is unmatchable.”
Fonte, who only made his Portugal debut in 2014 after excelling with Southampton, also revealed a bizarrely competitive side of Ronaldo, which led to push-up competitions in the changing rooms. He said:
“I just remember him doing push-ups in the shower.
“He would say to everyone, ‘I will do more push-ups than you in the shower after training’. And he would. He would do more than everyone. It showed how competitive he is. He was so far ahead of everyone.”
So there we have it. Hours upon hours in the gym and push-up competitions in the showers.
Ronaldo has come a long way but he never doubted he would get there.
