Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most prominent players in the world today, even at 40 years old. The Al Nassr forward has stayed at the top level of soccer thanks to his talent and winning mentality—but also due to his strict personal discipline. That includes a rule he extended to his teammates, as revealed by a former Portugal national team player who won the Euro 2016 title alongside CR7.
“In the national team, he used to say: ‘No cell phones, let’s go to the room and talk for a bit,’” Cedric Soares shared in a recent interview with ESPN. “One of the most peculiar things about him,” the defender recalled with a laugh, “at a certain hour, he stops using his phone. He says it affects sleep, so he keeps it out of the bedroom.”
Soares is a 33-year-old full-back who, like Cristiano, came up through Sporting CP. After standing out for several years there, he went on to play for Southampton, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Fulham before joining Sao Paulo in Brazil. With the Portugal national team, he earned 34 caps between 2014 and 2021, winning the Euro 2016 and also taking part in the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In the same interview, Soares referred specifically to conversations he had with Ronaldo during their time together on the national team. “There was a time when he told me: ‘Cedric, you can’t use 5G because it might harm your sleep,’” the defender recalled. “That was when 5G first came out. I don’t know if he still does it, but he used to block the signal to sleep a certain number of hours.”
Cedric Soares, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danilo Pereira of Portugal congratulate Nani after scoring the second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 semi final match vs Wales.
Beyond those peculiar habits, Soares emphasized how valuable it was to share that time with Cristiano. “He used to tell us stories. And there was a lot to learn, because he has so much experience, trains incredibly well, and is extremely competitive,” Cedric said. “And the results speak for themselves.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo is a model of longevity
Cristiano Ronaldo made his professional debut with Sporting CP in 2002. He quickly earned a spot in the first team, moved to Manchester United the following year, and that launched his journey with the Portugal national team. Twenty-three years later, the forward continues to hold a privileged place in world soccer.
CR7’s talent is undeniable and was a key factor in his rise to the elite level. But just as important has been his discipline, work ethic, and winning mentality. Many of his former teammates highlight the relentless effort he puts in to stay in peak physical shape, along with the careful lifestyle choices he makes off the pitch.
Stories like Soares’s reflect Ronaldo’s almost obsessive drive to leave nothing to chance and to create the conditions needed to perform at the highest level. The results are clear: between club and country, Cristiano has played 1,281 matches and scored 938 goals—more than any other player in history.
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