Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘crazy’ attitude on full display with message to ex-Man Utd team-mate
Owen Hargreaves has revealed the moment that he knew Cristiano Ronaldo was going to take the sporting world by storm, as he reflected on an exchange they had while at Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo once left Owen Hargreaves in awe after claiming that he was "going to win the Ballon d'Or this year", in a statement that marked the beginning of his dominant reign in soccer.
Hargreaves and Ronaldo were team-mates at Manchester United for two years, during which they won both the Premier League and Champions League titles in the English midfielder's first season. After joining the club in 2007, Hargreaves spent his pre-season in the gym, preparing for what would be an unforgettable season at United.
It was here that he got to know a young Ronaldo better, and Hargreaves was left astonished by the then-22-year-old's attitude towards the sport.
In an interview on the High Performance podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, Hargreaves shared his initial impressions of the Portuguese superstar, revealed what a young Ronaldo said that left him stunned.
The 44-year-old said: "I remember Cristiano about where you are on the mat [points at Jake Humphrey], and he wasn't Cristiano, that Cristiano yet. And he was doing these crazy sit-ups with this medicine ball, coming up and then throwing it, and I was watching him and then he said, 'I'm going to win the Ballon d'Or this year.'
"And he did at the end of the season – but this was pre-season in the gym, nobody could see [it]."
Hargreaves was taken aback by Ronaldo's bold claim for the prestigious award, as the Portuguese's era of soccer dominance had not yet fully dawned. The winger's focused and committed approach foreshadowed the illustrious trajectory of his career, which would see him become a five-time Champions League winner.
Indeed, Ronaldo's foresight proved accurate; he clinched his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 after Manchester United's nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in the Champions League final, and edging out the same rivals for the Premier League title by a mere two points.
He triumphed over future rival Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Fernando Torres for the coveted award, which was just a sign of things to come for the soccer superstar.
Hargreaves didn't stop at just admiring Ronaldo's early dedication; he also praised the culture at United that propelled the team to unprecedented heights.
He added: "Everyone looks at him finished now and how he looks and how he plays and the goals he's scoring, but again you're doing that every day. Take a guy thats 6'1 with that talent, that work ethic, and you're going to create gold."
"And so when I saw him putting the work in, I always thought I was a good pro, like before bed I used to do push-ups and sit-ups and stretch for an hour and I just thought that kind of helped me a little but I didn't do much else.
"And then I met Mike and we were in the gym a lot, which I loved, but then I saw Cristiano. So you put the work in, then you add another layer so then you start to do more, and I just think culture is such a powerful thing and we just had an amazing culture of everybody was talented but everybody wants to get better."
Since leaving United in 2009, Ronaldo's illustrious career trajectory continued to dazzle, as he won an additional four Ballons d'Or, clinched another four Champions League titles, and celebrated numerous other achievements. These included winning two La Liga titles, two Serie A trophies, and leading Portugal to victory in the European Championship of 2016.
Now at 40 years old and competing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is not slowing down with his eyes set on gracing the field at the World Cup in 2026, hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Hargreaves' journey dramatically differed from Ronaldo's, due to a spate of injuries undermining his tenure at Manchester United, culminating in his exit after the 2010/2011 season.
Subsequently, Hargreaves spent a year at rivals Manchester City, where he witnessed the team snatch the Premier League title in the most nail-biting fashion, with Sergio Aguero's legendary last-gasp goal against Queens Park Rangers tipping the scales on the season's final day.
Unfortunately for Hargreaves, with just a single league game appearance that year, this meant that he didn't receive a winners' medal.