Cristiano Ronaldo’s winning mentality is nothing new. From his earliest days at Sporting Clube de Portugal, the Portuguese star made it clear that his ambition had no limits. That obsession with victory followed him throughout his career at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now at Al Nassr FC.

Someone who witnessed it up close was Nani, the former Manchester United star who shared the pitch with him both at club level and with Portugal’s national team. Speaking to Four Four Two, Nani recalled what Cristiano was like in his formative years and confirmed that his competitive nature was already visible back then.

“Even as a kid, he stood out above everyone. He knew exactly what he wanted. He lived football with enormous passion: if he didn’t win or things didn’t go his way, he would cry,” Nani explained. Rather than seeing it as weakness, he described it as clear proof of commitment and intensity.

Nani also revealed that he chose to join Sporting instead of Benfica partly because of Cristiano’s presence. Years later, both fulfilled their dream of sharing a locker room at Manchester United and representing Portugal together. In total, they played 130 matches as teammates and combined for 14 goals.

Today, Cristiano continues chasing new milestones. With Al Nassr fighting near the top of the Saudi league, the forward’s ambition remains intact, including his personal goal of reaching 1,000 career goals.

At 41 years old, the Portuguese star continues to show that the same competitiveness that made him cry as a child is what drives him to break records and remain at the elite level, cementing a mindset that has defined one of the most successful careers in football history.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live and for free on YouTube