A lesson about mindset from Cristiano Ronaldo

The topic of players’ fitness has been a constant point of discussion and debate in football. People ask whether a player might be ‘naturally’ bigger and more prone to piling on the pounds when injured or away from football or is it simply a lack of work and dedication to being as fit as possible?

Only the individual player knows the truth of the matter, yet it is a significant issue when considering the player and his suitability for the modern game and whether to keep or release him. This article will look at the reason why Cristiano Ronaldo became one of the world’s most complete players.

We all know the saying, “he had all the talent in the world but…” There’s always a but – an excuse for why people never accomplish what they could have. Was it luck, injury, opportunity or was it down to mentality and mindset? The mental part of the game is the key distinguishing feature of what makes the good great and what separates those who ‘make it’ and those don’t. Greatness therefore is all about mindset. This brings us nicely to the issue of Ronaldo.

After two uneventful seasons at Old Trafford, ait was between 2004-2006 a change occurred in Christiano Ronaldo’s play: He began to improve, grow and mature as a player. His skills were becoming frightening for defenders because he was becoming more effective. His shots, which earlier in his career were frustratingly wide far too often were now finding their target with ruthless precision.

And his physique, “well the man became an athlete,” as Gary Neville said he returned one summer looking like a “light heavyweight boxer”. When Ronaldo had arrived at Manchester United he was a raw and scraggly teenager yet by 2006 he was looking like a world beater. 

It was no surprise that success for United was forthcoming, three league titles in a row between 2006-2009 and back-to-back Champions League finals highlighted the quality of this United side. By 2009 Ronaldo had become arguably the world’s best player.

A lesson in mindset and hardwork

So, what happened? Why did Rooney not progress along the same lines as Ronaldo? He clearly had the talent and ability, probably more than Ronaldo at first, yet it was clear that one of these men was more determined, more focused, and more willing to make himself great. Unlike others in that same United team, Ronaldo was enhancing his strength and speed. The difference was in his mindset.

The difference in the example above was that Rooney relied on his natural ability. He had been dominant on the football pitch form an early age and excelled there, most likely believing his progression to becoming a professional footballer was expected and being a football cam easy to him.

Now this happens in many instances across schools and sports; a young child is complimented for their ‘natural talent’ and tasks come easier to them than others. Unfortunately, what this produces is a player who often does not value hard work. This might include obsessing and training with deep learning and practice. Could it be that Rooney did not think he needed to train to improve with the intensity required to become great?

This is what could have happened with Rooney and Ronaldo. One found it all too easy and didn’t seek to improve further because he didn’t think he needed to whereas the other came through those early years of struggle (Ronaldo was taunted and ridiculed by media and fans for the first few years at United) and he set out to prove them wrong. He ultimately became better for it. Ronaldo’s mindset to work harder than anyone else produced the player we see today.

A need to prove others wrong?

The case of Ronaldo points to a difference in approach to Rooney; he clearly felt that he needed to train more in order to improve and perhaps felt second best to Rooney and therefore sought to push himself harder to improve. Ultimately all the extra work, the obsession to improve made him a better player. All those extra sessions on the pitch or in the gym, all the personal coaching sessions took Ronaldo’s game to a new level and as we saw over time it took him to being one of the world’s best players.

It is amazing to see the personification of Ronaldo as a selfish and egotistical player; the truth is that he is perhaps the hardest working player in world football. A player who is an example to kids all over the world and proof that hard work brings success. It was all about hard work, obsession to train and improve with the single-minded belief in his mind of being the best. 

Now of course Ronaldo has played second to Lionel Messi for several years which has clearly frustrated him, yet it has made him work harder and want to achieve more, which saw his move from Italy back to Old Trafford before embarking on one of his biggest challenges in Saudi Arabia. His ambition and desire to win and achieve new goals is frightening.

And what about Rooney? Well the one who found it easy doesn’t work as hard because they don’t think they have to, of course they still get by and do well and for a player with this mindset perhaps they feel that is sufficient. Extra work and intense fitness drills are not required. 

And this is where we are with Rooney now. He is retired and overweight unable to compete in professional football whereas Ronaldo, despite being the older of the two players continues to play a large number of games per season and challenge in a competitive environment.

Both players were afforded the same opportunities at United yet it was Ronaldo who seized that chance to become the best. Like many have commented, he was the best trainer they have seen at the club and like many cases like that the coaches and management invest more time and effort into a player who wants to excel because they know that that kind of player will make the team successful and profitable. As Ronaldo proved. 

Wasted talent due to the wrong mindset

As for Rooney, well his ‘natural talent’ and fixed mindset has produced a player who doesn’t appear to enjoy being second or not being loved. Instead of having the mentality to work harder and prove those around him wrong he has sulked and requested a move. 

An impression of Rooney is that he has never experienced a proper setback in his whole career. It’s seemingly clear that working harder to improve doesn’t bother him, instead a feeling of entitlement is evident. A mentality which unfortunately far too many football players appear to possess. 

If we consider young players that we work with, do we as coaches and parents give too much to our players that we never let them experience setbacks or disappointment and because of this do we not prepare our young children adequately for inevitable knocks? The need to promote hard work over ‘natural’ talent is clear and more coaches and parents should consider the environment they are creating for their children. 

Ronaldo’s story proves that setbacks can be a great catalyst for greatness if the correct mindset is in place, that which realises “if I wish to get better, I need to work much harder.”