Cristiano Ronaldo is a well-known athlete who needs no introduction. Not only has the flamboyant player won countless awards over his remarkable career, but he continues to dominate the sport at the age of 36. Cristiano Ronaldo’s athleticism has inspired people to pursue a healthy lifestyle, as he possesses the fitness level of a young footballer. While the dangerous striker continues to shatter long-held records, Ronaldo’s popularity continues to grow.
Top young footballers like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, and others have publicly referred to him as their idols. While Ronaldo’s passion for the game and commitment to fitness has helped him win significant championships and score incredible goals on a global scale, he certainly deserves all of the attention he is receiving today. Despite his wealth, Ronaldo maintains a strict diet and never misses an opportunity to work on his physique.
1. Marcus Rashford
The 23-year-old England striker plays for Ronaldo’s former club Manchester United. Marcus Rashford’s free-kick style will remind you of a young Ronaldo while he continues to lead Manchester United’s attack. Rashford has praised Ronaldo, the 36-year-old footballer, as his greatest inspiration. As the latter appeared to be wowed by the talented young striker’s words, he sent the Man United wonder-kid a signed jersey with the message: “Marcus’s attention. Keep up with the good work.”
2. Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland, unquestionably one of the top young strikers in the game, is a Cristiano Ronaldo devotee. With numerous top teams in the world vying for the 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund prodigy, Haaland attributes his success to Ronaldo. The Norwegian striker claimed in an interview that Ronaldo has always been an inspiration for him and that he would like to honor the icon for motivating him to pursue a career in football.
3. Kylian Mbappe
Everyone knows how much Kylian Mbappe adores Cristiano Ronaldo. The 22-year-old French striker is a tremendous fan of the Portuguese superstar, who has referred to him as his idol on numerous occasions. The year before, Mbappe posted a series of photos with Ronaldo at the UEFA Nations League match between France and Portugal, captioning them ‘Idol’ with a crown and goat, and tagging the Juventus star. If speculations are to be accepted, Mbappe might join Ronaldo’s former club Real Madrid after his PSG contract expires next season.
4. João Félix
João Félix, a talented Portuguese striker, is being hailed as Cristiano Ronaldo’s successor. The Atletico Madrid striker, who is 21 years old, has made significant progress in the game and has carved out a space for himself. Felix had praised his National team captain, saying that he had grown up admiring Ronaldo and hoped to one day play for the same club as his idol. While the youthful dynamic striker strives to learn from the greatest while on National service, we hope to see his ambition of playing alongside Ronaldo in the same club shirt one day come true.
5. Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt, a centre-back for the Netherlands, grew up supporting Cristiano Ronaldo, much like the rest of us. While the promising 21-year-old currently plays for Juventus in Serie A alongside his idol, Matthijs de Ligt has revealed that his first football jersey belonged to the Portuguese superstar, as he grew up wishing to be like Ronaldo. Ligt, on the other hand, has realized his ambition and now wears the same club jersey as Ronaldo.
6. Harry Kane
Don’t be astonished if we tell you that Harry Kane, the talismanic England striker, and skipper, is a Cristiano Ronaldo devotee. The English Premier League’s leading goalscorer has learned from Ronaldo, who was his main role model when he was a teenager. The Tottenham Hotspur striker, who is 27 years old, has even displayed Ronaldo’s jersey, which they traded after a game.
7. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes, another Portuguese prodigy and a major Ronaldo follower, followed in his idol’s footsteps by joining Manchester United. “I’m a Cristiano Ronaldo fan and he’s a guy I’ve always followed,” Fernandes said of his Portuguese teammate. While Fernandes has gone on to become one of the greatest all-time midfielders to wear the Manchester United shirt, he appears to be playing for Portugal under Ronaldo’s guidance.