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Cristiano Ronaldo is often portrayed as a superhuman athlete whose drive for perfection sets him apart from everyone else in the sporting world. Yet, his former teammate Danilo has provided a candid look into what it’s really like to share a dressing room with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, describing the Portuguese superstar as far more down-to-earth than many might assume.

Ronaldo’s ‘normal’ side

Danilo, who had the opportunity to play alongside Ronaldo at both Real Madrid and Juventus, has attempted to break the myth that the legendary forward is something beyond human. Despite Ronaldo’s unmatched achievements and his relentless dedication to improvement, the Brazilian defender insists that the Al-Nassr frontman is surprisingly relatable away from the spotlight.

In a conversation with The Athletic, Danilo shared: “People often think Cristiano is some sort of extraterrestrial, but in reality, he’s a normal guy who laughs, jokes, and enjoys spending time with his family. Of course, Cristiano lives for football — almost everything he does is aimed at becoming better every single day.”

CR7’s unyielding hunger for excellence

While Danilo was eager to highlight Ronaldo’s human side, he also acknowledged the extraordinary professionalism that has kept the veteran forward performing at the highest level for more than twenty years. The defender observed firsthand how Ronaldo’s mentality elevates everyone around him, instilling a culture where anything less than excellence simply isn’t accepted.

“I played with him at Madrid. In Turin, he was older but still scoring plenty of goals and maintaining the same professionalism. He always pushed you to perform at your best — both in training sessions and during matches,” Danilo added.

Similarities with Carlo Ancelotti

As Brazil prepares for a new chapter under Carlo Ancelotti, Danilo sees clear parallels between the Italian tactician and his former teammate Ronaldo. Both men have reached the top of world football numerous times, yet remain humble and unaffected by their fame or success.

“Ancelotti is like Cristiano — one of the most recognised figures in football, but he lives day-to-day life with us like any ordinary person,” he said. “He’s humble, and that humility is one of the most important qualities of true champions. He’s achieved so much but continues to work as though he’s still chasing his first victory.”

Chasing the ultimate dream — the World Cup

Now 41, Ronaldo is focused on fulfilling the one dream that has so far eluded him — winning the World Cup. The Portuguese captain is preparing meticulously to compete in what will be his sixth World Cup appearance.

Should he achieve this remarkable milestone, Ronaldo would become one of only three players in football history to play in six World Cup tournaments, joining Lionel Messi and Guillermo Ochoa in that elite group.

Portugal have been drawn in Group K, where they will begin their campaign against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17, followed by matches against Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27.