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Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about his competitive family life and how his personality has rubbed off on his five children. In an interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand on his podcast, Ronaldo shared insights into how his household, particularly his relationship with his eldest son, Cristiano Jr., reflects his intense drive to win.
The legendary footballer, who recently became the first player to score 900 career goals, revealed that even non-football activities with his children, such as playing padel, become fiercely competitive. He explained, "I was in the Red Sea a couple of days ago, I play every day padel. Me and Cristiano Jr get mad, we don't speak for like two days." He added that this competitiveness extends to all his children, including his youngest, Matteo, saying, "It shows they have personality."
Ronaldo noted that his children, especially Cristiano Jr., have inherited much of his temperament. "Seriously, my kids, they are like me. I don't teach them, but they see by example because sometimes when I lose I get angry, sometimes I cry, depends on the moment. They are kind of the same. So even with my kids, I compete, I always want to win. I don't give nothing for free," he said.
Cristiano Jr., who is 14, is currently playing for Al-Nassr's youth academy in Saudi Arabia, following his father's career closely. He has also been part of Juventus and Manchester United's youth setups as Ronaldo moved across clubs. Despite his son's aspirations to follow in his footsteps, Ronaldo is careful not to exert too much pressure on him. "Right in this moment, Cristiano wants to be a football player, but I don't make big pressure, I make a little. He's 14 years old, he has pressure already to be the son of Cristiano [senior]. Let him make his own mistakes, but I hope that in the future, he can be a professional player," he shared.
While he hopes his son will become a footballer, Ronaldo emphasized the importance of allowing his children to choose their own paths. "If he doesn't become a player, maybe another job, but I will always support him. We cannot put pressure on our sons because we are famous," he said.
