FIFA world cup is one of the most awaited sport in the world today. This is the stage where all the countries fight for glory, the time when all, the old and the young back their nations. The players who play for their country are like inspirations to all the youth. They encourage the young minds to be a sport in whatsoever situations they are in. These players set a perfect example for the quote ‘Greatness is achieved only through hardships’. All time football stars like Diego Maradona, Pele, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo have made a mark in the world of football today. They are just not professional footballers but they are also worshipped as the gods of football by the soccer fans. Each player has his own story to tell. They are just not stories, they are phases that each player has gone through, to be the people who they are today. One of them is Cristiano dos Santos Averio, also known as Cristiano Ronaldo or CR7 who is the world’s most known professional footballer in today’s modern times. Like every other athlete, Ronaldo has been through some hard times of his own. A young chap from Sao Pedro whose mother was a cook and father was a municipal gardener and a part time Kit man.

Ronaldo began his career by playing for an Amateur team ‘Andorinha’ in the year 1992.when he was 12, He went on a three day trial with Sporting CP who signed him for a decent fee.

At age 14, Ronaldo decided to up his game. He believed that with the ability he had, He could play Semi-Professionally. Ronaldo ceased his education in order to focus entirely on football. Ronaldo was expelled from school because he once threw a chair at his teacher.

He stated the reason for this unpleasant behaviour was that ‘she disrespected him’.

After a year, the pages of Ronaldo’s life turned. He was Diagnosed with a racing heart, a condition that would have to put a full stop to his playing career. He was operated and he resumed training only few days later. Ronaldo’s father passed away at the age of 52, due to his consumption of alcohol which affected his liver.  However the traits of his father Jose Dinis Aveiro, were not passed to his son. Despite the hardships, Ronaldo focused on his game and he kept improving consistently. Today he holds the record of the most Ballon d’ or and also the world’s most expensive footballer in History.

Ronaldo once quoted “I’m a living dream I never want to wake up from”.

We all have the ability to live our dreams. But we just need to call the shots. If we don’t, we miss out on the best who we could be. Those footballing legends were not born in the perfect families. They made sacrifices, they did sweat it out to be at the place where they are today. We are born with families who love us, who try their best to give us all what one needs. The youth of today need to look at the lives of these footballers today and they need to make the most of what they have.

IF YOU WON’T, YOU NEVER WILL. SO GIVE IT ALL.

Pearson Fernandes