A different side to Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless competitiveness on the pitch is well documented, but a former teammate has offered a glimpse of the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner behind closed doors. Álvaro González, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo at Al‑Nassr during the 2022‑23 Saudi Pro League season, described the Portuguese forward as approachable, helpful and, despite his formidable reputation, “a super normal” person.

González made the remarks during the broadcast of Racing‑Elche on Radio MARCA, as reported by The Times of India and Yardbarker. He joined the Saudi club in August 2022, months before Ronaldo’s arrival in January 2023, and said his assessment was not based solely on his own experience.

“Honestly, and after confirming it with other teammates we’ve had in common, he’s a true phenomenon in the dressing room,” González said, according to The Times of India. Yardbarker quoted him as saying Ronaldo is “absolutely fantastic inside the dressing room.”

That warm nature, González said, gives way to a different demeanour once the match begins. “As soon as he goes from the dressing room to the field, he completely changes,” he explained, describing Ronaldo as “a competitive beast” in training and play. Yardbarker quoted González as saying: “From the moment he leaves the dressing room and steps onto the pitch, he completely changes. He’s a competitive beast.”

Helpful arrival

González said Ronaldo was particularly helpful when he first arrived at the club and played an important role in supporting teammates through difficulties during that season. “Inside the dressing room he is a super normal, approachable person who helps you,” González said. “He helped us enormously when he arrived because of some things that were happening during that year, and he helped us with everything.”

Yardbarker reported that González recalled intense physical battles with Ronaldo in training, which always ended amicably off the pitch. “Afterwards, we’d go to the jacuzzi, have some laughs and joke around, and it would all be forgotten,” he said.

A place in history

González also placed Ronaldo among the all‑time greats. “People like him and [Lionel] Messi will go down in the history of football,” he said, as reported by Yardbarker. The Times of India quoted him saying the pair “will go down in the history of sport.”

Career milestones

Ronaldo’s club and career statistics continue to draw attention. The Times of India reported that Ronaldo scored in Al‑Nassr’s 2‑1 comeback victory over Al‑Taawoun on August 28, taking his official senior career tally to 978 goals, 22 short of 1,000. He also became the club’s all‑time leading scorer in the Saudi Pro League era, with 104 league goals in 110 appearances, according to the same report.

Ronaldo has suggested the upcoming season could be his last, a statement carried by The Times of India.