What makes a champion? Of course, in sport, talent is essential. In several tales recounting the early years of some of the world’s greatest ever athletes, we hear family members, friends and coaches describing an innate ability from the start - something special. But such talent leads nowhere without hard work and dedication. Rigorous physical training, a healthy diet, a fixed sleep routine, for example - these are all also crucial parts in the making of a brilliant athlete. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, is aware of the importance of these two pillars: “Talent without work is nothing and work without talent is nothing.” (WHOOP)

But one key aspect behind all these factors, one that serves as the backbone of such efforts and a key reason as to why Ronaldo has achieved so much throughout his career, is his mindset.

The Invisible Foundation: Mindset

Behind the star we’ve been watching on our screens for so many years, the one who became Real Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer, the one who won 5 Ballon d’Ors, is a man who knows exactly how to hone his mind on success. In an interview for the Saudi Pro League, where he currently represents Al-Nassr, Ronaldo explains the importance of self-belief, as well as three crucial mental components: “passion, consistency and persistence”. (Saudi Pro League)

Passion, Consistency, and Persistence

His passion is evident every time he scores a goal and celebrates as if it were his first.

Consistency is what keeps him playing at a high level even at 41 years old.

And persistence explains why, as a young player at Manchester United, he would secretly do extra training sessions to improve even further.

"Many people say: ‘You like to go to the gym every day.’ Of course not. It's not true. Nobody likes to go to the gym every day. But you have to go.” - Cristiano Ronaldo

But Ronaldo is keenly aware that a winning mindset is often fighting against natural human moods, impulses and emotions: “We are all human beings. We are not happy every day. We are not in a good mood every day. It's normal. It's part of us. [...] I fight against it. It's a big challenge. It's when you are not willing to do something, but you have to do it. That's the main point. That's why I say: our mind is a box of surprises. And you need to challenge yourself to be consistent. I will repeat - sometimes, it's difficult. Many people say: ‘You like to go to the gym every day.’ Of course not. It's not true. Nobody likes to go to the gym every day. But you have to go.” (WHOOP)

The key, then, is not to pretend to be a superhuman machine, devoid of alterations in energy levels or motivation, but rather to strive for greatness even in the face of such challenges, focusing on your priorities and goals. In Ronaldo’s case, these priorities are health and success, two things which come hand-in-hand. That’s why he follows the strictest of regiments, while also acknowledging that his commitment to his mission is more intense than the average person, jokingly explaining: “Don’t be like Cristiano, because Cristiano is crazy. But [be] 20%, 25%.” (WHOOP) After all, who knows what could be achieved if we all devoted our lives to health and success, even 25% as much as Ronaldo does?

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Focus on the Now

Another large part of Ronaldo’s mentality is avoiding ‘the bigger picture’ - of focusing on the day-to-day, the challenges in front of you: “For some years now, I have learned, through experience not only as a father but also as a human being, that in life we cannot make long-term plans. I, at least, in my life do everything short-term. [...] The most important thing is the moment, this moment now. This week, this month, this year.” (Canal 11)

By compartmentalising his goals in this way, the craque manages to avoid falling into the trap of becoming overwhelmed with pressure. Even as one of the greatest footballers of all time, who is not only beloved for achieving great things but also expected to continue achieving great things until he retires, he plays with a calm confidence, trusting in his own ability and hard work, and focusing on the immediate task at hand. Train. Play. Win. Rest. Repeat.

“If you put additional pressure on yourself, it's worse. You have to try to let things flow naturally." - Cristiano Ronaldo

But how many more goals is he going to score? Will he reach the illustrious milestone of 1,000? Will he win another title for Al-Nassr or for the Portuguese national team? Could he still win another Ballon d’Or? When will he retire?

Ronaldo simply blocks out the noise and focuses on the clear path in front of him, day by day, knowing that as long as he pushes himself as far and as hard as he can, the rest is out of his control: “If you put additional pressure on yourself, it's worse. You have to try to let things flow naturally. And everything in my life has been like that. When you become too obsessed with something, you can't achieve your goals - both in your professional football life and your personal life. You have to let things happen naturally. That way, your mind is at peace and you can live your life naturally, because things happen when God wants them to.” (Desimpedidos)

The True Secret of a Champion

In essence, he has built a layer of protection around himself - avoiding becoming too affected by pressures, internal and external, eyes set on his own personal ambitions and life goals. Of course, occasionally, this protective layer will show cracks. Stress may seep through. Self-belief may waver. But a good trick is to acknowledge that these moments do happen - instead of letting them bring you down, use them as motivators to pick you up, to push you up and guide you forward out of a slump and into glory: “In my case, I learn more when I'm down. And it's good that these moments happen, because when you're on top of the wave, you don't see what's happening underneath it. I always tell my friends: ‘It's good to have problems. It's the only way to improve.’” (Binance)

So, there you have it. Ronaldo, a man who has practically redefined the meaning of the word ‘winner’ and ‘champion’ has a mindset which is both incredibly strong, demanding and determined, but also flexible, pragmatic and realistic. He pushes himself to be the best, but he understands that the human mind is unpredictable and that you have to work alongside it, not against it.