Cristiano Ronaldo: People told me I was too skinny

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has said he was told he was too skinny to make it as a top level footballer when he was younger – something that spurred him on to put in the extra hours in the gym.

The Ballon d’Or holder came to prominence at Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United, who he joined as a teenager. The tricky winger was trim back then, but over the years has has spent hours in the gym bulking up to become known now for his sculptured physic.

It is said that Ronaldo is obsessive about doing press ups and sit ups, and completes up to 3,000 day.

Speaking in a promotional video, the 30-year-old said he has had to make a lot of sacrifices and has had to work very hard over the years to get to where he is.

“You have to work so hard. I do this every day. This is why I have been at the top level for many, many years. It’s not a coincidence. I do so much extra work outside of the pitch,” he commented.

He added: “When I was younger most people told me: ‘Cristiano, you are a very talented player but you are too skinny.’ So I put it in my mind that my body can improve. With dedication and hard work in the gym I improved a lot on that – at the end of the day it’s down to the person’s mindset.

“Athleticism also means a huge amount – these small details make a huge difference. So it’s very important to do this work and it’s going really well for me. That’s why I’m always in good shape all year round. I do that kind of work because I have to, it’s part of me.”