Surpassing Ronaldo’s work ethic is nearly impossible, according to former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane.
In a recent interview, Zidane compared Cristiano Ronaldo during his prime to the current French football sensation Kylian Mbappé. While acknowledging Mbappé’s exceptional talent, Zidane emphasized a key aspect that sets Ronaldo apart.
“Kylian doesn’t need anyone to teach him how to play. Players with that level of talent already understand football,” Zidane stated. However, he added that at the highest level, talent is just the starting point. Reflecting on his time with Ronaldo, Zidane noted that the Portuguese forward had an unmatched dedication to improvement.
“When I worked with Cristiano at Real Madrid, one thing always impressed me. After a match where he scored, provided an assist and was named man of the match, the next morning he came to my office and asked for the full match recording.
I thought he wanted to watch the goals. But that wasn’t the case. He wanted to see his failed runs, moments when he lost the ball, and scoring chances he could have finished better. That’s what elite mentality is.
Kylian has all the qualities to reach that level. Now, the challenge is to make perfection a habit, not just a moment.” – said Zidane.
Cristiano Ronaldo played under Zidane at Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018.