Cristiano Ronaldo Ballon d'Or 2016

In a candid interview with the bimonthly Italian magazine ‘Undici’ published this Saturday, Real Madrid and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo revealed his most sincere side, talking frankly about his successful career so far and his pride in representing his country.

On his career: "Where would I rate myself amongst the top players of the last twenty years? Thinking positively, then I believe with what I’ve achieved, I’m the best of the lot."

His impact on football: "The best athletes always influence their sport, so I think I’ve had an important impact. I can’t say how much, but if you can run faster, jump higher than the rest, be consistently strong and agile, then you can make your talent as effective as it can be. I’ve worked hard to get to the highest level and I’ll continue doing it to stay where I am. I maintain the same attitude and dedication in every single training session and in every match. I look after myself so I can keep making history in football well into the future."

Portugal at Euro 2016: “I feel like I’m a citizen of the world, but also a Portuguese man who loves where he comes from and is proud to represent my country at the highest level. After Euro 2004 I’ve felt responsible for being part of this great generation. I know a lot of boys and girls look up to me today as an inspiration."