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Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has offered an honest insight into what it was like sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing that the forward is far more approachable and good-natured than his global image might suggest. According to the Class of '92 graduate, many people find it difficult to engage with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner simply because they are overwhelmed by his remarkable status in world football.

The real Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo has often been portrayed as a self-centred figure, but Butt has sought to challenge that perception by recounting his own experiences with the Portuguese superstar. The former Manchester United midfielder, who enjoyed an illustrious career at Old Trafford with six Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph among several honours, spent one season alongside Ronaldo after the forward joined the club in the summer of 2003. Butt insists that the current Al-Nassr player is a natural entertainer who thrives in the social atmosphere of a football squad.

Speaking to Paddy Power, Butt said, “Cristiano is actually a very likeable lad. He’s a top lad, really funny, and always involved in the banter. Of course, he’s a mega superstar, a billionaire, but he’s a genuinely good person to chat with. The problem is often with others—they can be a bit standoffish because they’re in awe of him.”

On being a team player

Throughout his career, especially in his later years, Ronaldo has faced criticism for not contributing enough defensively. However, Butt contends that this is a deliberate tactical approach rather than a lack of effort or teamwork. He compared Ronaldo’s playing style to that of Lionel Messi, pointing out that both legends manage their physical exertion carefully to remain effective in attack.

“He’s always present and a very good team player,” Butt continued. “It might not look that way on the pitch—sometimes it seems like he’s just standing there. But Messi does the same. They’ve reached a point in their careers where they conserve energy for the right moments, for scoring goals. People might say he’s a problem when the team is struggling, but when the side is playing well and dominating possession, he’s a huge threat—and he’s proved that time and again.”

Answering critics on the world stage

The debate about Ronaldo’s place at the top level reignited during the 2026 World Cup. After Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening game, the 41-year-old was heavily criticised by pundits who called for him to be dropped. But Ronaldo silenced his detractors in style by scoring twice in a 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan in the following group match. His performance drew strong backing from fellow Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who took to social media to defend the Portugal captain after his inspirational display.

Ferdinand passionately responded to the criticism, saying, “Cristiano! My god, this is what he does! Cristiano Ronaldo has already made his mark on this World Cup. For all the doubters—how can you question a man who’s nearing 1,000 goals? He’s just overtaken Eusebio as the Portuguese player with the most World Cup goals. The only living player to score in six World Cups. To say he’s finished or that he hurts the team—there aren’t many strikers on Earth who move like that.”

That winning mindset

Butt agreed that Ronaldo has always thrived on proving people wrong, something he has done since his teenage days in Manchester. “I knew he’d bounce back after that poor first game; it wasn’t just him—the whole team struggled,” Butt explained. “He’s been silencing critics his entire career, and that’s exactly what he’s done since he was a kid.”

Portugal and Ronaldo are now preparing for their final group-stage encounter against Colombia. The South American side currently tops the group with six points, while Portugal trails just behind with four after their draw with DR Congo. To claim first place, the Portuguese side needs nothing short of a win, and Ronaldo will be eager to continue his goal-scoring form to lead his nation into the knockout rounds as group leaders.