It’s been six years since Cristiano Ronaldo left to find a new destination, but he remains one of the most influential players at Real Madrid.
After joining the Spanish club from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world record fee of £80 million, Ronaldo became 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 unwavering 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,” said AS.
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 break, adopting the so-called ‘Cristiano Method’ to avoid losing fitness ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Real Madrid players apply Ronaldo’s disciplined training method (Photo: Madrid Zone).
“The legacy that Cristiano left behind was established from the starting players to the reserve players. Carlo Ancelotti’s less-played players have the mentality of always being ready when the situation requires it,” AS added.
Perhaps the biggest sign of Ronaldo’s continued influence was the admission of 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.”
