The coach who discovered Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the three key things he was blessed with which saw him make it as one of the world’s best players.
In a career that boasts 33 trophies, including seven league titles, five Champions Leagues and a European Championship for his country, it all began with his first-team debut in August 2002.
At just the tender age of 17, a young Ronaldo entered the pitch in the 58th minute of the game during Sporting CP’s Champions League qualifier against Inter Milan.
The game ended up finishing goalless, but for the Sporting coach Laszlo Boloni he knew he had something special on his hands.
Boloni spotted in Ronaldo not only a physical and technical ability, but a maturity that went beyond his years which was enough for him to make the bold claim he would surpass Portuguese footballing legends Luis Figo and Eusebio.
The Portuguese star has gone on to win 33 trophies, including five Champions Leagues.
Boloni stands alongside his discovered talent Ronaldo after he wins a player of the year award.
Talking to Marca, the Romanian manager said: ‘I went to see the youth team and asked that he [Cristiano] come along with the first team because he was in good physical condition, was really quick and had great technical ability.
‘None of this was a surprise. When I saw him in action, I decided that he wasn’t going to go back to playing with the youth team. He played and behaved like someone way beyond his years.
‘In the dressing room he was a bit of a joker, but on the pitch he was exceptional. To have the level of maturity that he did isn’t common for someone of 16 to 17 years of age.
‘I didn’t know that he was going to be one of the best ever, but I did know that, if he avoided injuries, he would be a very good player.’
Boloni, who is currently in charge of Ligue 1 side Metz, added: ‘At that time I was asked about him in an interview and I said that he would surpass [Luis] Figo and even Eusebio.
‘Comparing a young player to those two, who are considered Gods in Portugal, caused me some problems. Ronaldo, though, has proven that I was right all along.’
During Cristiano’s youth playing days, Boloni also revealed how he was used as a central striker but he decided to put him on the wing.
He explained: ‘He was young and only weighed 60kg, so it was going to be difficult for him to hold up the ball when up against 100kg centre-backs.
The Romanian coach said that his ‘level of maturity was not common’ with someone that age.
Ronaldo was signed from Sporting in 2003 by Man United, where he spent six years at.
Boloni, who is now 70-years-old, is now a manager of Ligue 1 side Metz in France.
‘On the flank, with the speed and dribbling ability he had, he would be far more effective.’
‘I’m happy that I made the decision that I did, but at the start it wasn’t easy,’ said Boloni. For him, the thing he wanted to do most was dribble.
‘My job was to tell him that dribbling past one or two players is important, but five is too many.
‘I tried to explain to him until what point dribbles like that were useful. As he was intelligent, he started to go down the right path.’
Weighing in on the age old debate about whether Lionel Messi or Ronaldo is better, Botoni, expectedly, said he was biased.
‘Who is better? I can’t be impartial, Ronaldo will always be my boy. He started out with me at Sporting CP.
‘In any case, we have all been lucky enough to have enjoyed watching these two legends battle it out for 10 to 15 years.’
Ronaldo’s glitteringly successful career can be traced back to the moment Boloni selected him.
After spending nine years at Madrid, Cristiano moved to Italian giants Juventus for three years.
Asked who was better out of Messi and Ronaldo, Boloni said it will always be ‘his boy’ Ronaldo.
Earlier this week Ronaldo revealed that football’s individual awards no longer hold the weight that they once did.
Lionel Messi picked up FIFA’s The Best prize last week and many were surprised that he did so over the Treble-winning Erling Haaland.
Messi also won the Ballon d’Or after his World Cup triumph but FIFA’s prize was awarded over a period that did not include that.
Ronaldo, speaking after winning three prizes at the Globe Soccer Awards, hinted that Messi was not a deserving winner.
‘I think that, in a way, these awards are losing credibility,’ he said. ‘We have to analyse the entire season. It’s not to say that Messi didn’t deserve it, or Haaland or even Mbappe. I simply no longer believe in these awards.
‘And it’s not because I won at Globe Soccer. But there are facts, there are numbers. And the numbers don’t deceive. They can’t take this trophy away from me because it’s a reality. So it makes me even happier because the numbers are facts.’
