Each time a debate about the greatest soccer player arises, Cristiano Ronaldo’s name is guaranteed to be brought up. However, while many people focus on his athleticism, Ronaldo himself seems to emphasize equally as much, his mentality.
A September 2019 article on High Performance Coach, Donald MacNaughton’s website, outlines the mindset that guided Ronaldo to success. Learning about his mindset revealed to us that certain components of Ronaldo’s mentality align with the Pro Mindset® as described by veteran NFL agent Craig Domann. Let’s see what we can learn from these similarities.
Purpose
Quote: “I’ve never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to become the best.”
A common misconception about Cristiano Ronaldo is that his “natural” talent got him to where he is today. While he was signed to Manchester United at the young age of 16, Ronaldo faced several obstacles to reach his current status. For instance, one year before he was signed to Manchester United, he was diagnosed with a heart condition that threatened to end his career before it even started.
Nonetheless, Ronaldo persevered because he had a purpose. His goal was not to be remembered as the 16-year-old that got signed for a record fee, nor was it to be remembered as merely a soccer player with “natural” talent. His purpose was to become the best. Having a purpose is a crucial aspect of Pro Mindset, and it is clearly displayed in Ronaldo’s athletic career. Through difficulties, failures, and obstacles, his purpose gave him the power to persevere. This purpose is what has made Cristiano Ronaldo the globally recognized soccer player he is today.
Passion
Quote: “Talent without working hard is nothing.”
As mentioned above, Ronaldo was recognized at a very young age for his athletic abilities. However, his talent alone is not what has made him one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Ronaldo’s passion for the game of soccer is what drove him to work hard and persevere through adversity. Passion for the game is what ultimately drove him to success.
In fact, his godfather has said on multiple occasions that the only thing Cristiano wanted to do as a child was to play soccer, claiming, “He loved the game so much he’d miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework.”
Athletes that go down in history as the greatest of all time share one thing: passion. As Ronaldo says, talent alone cannot carry an athlete to success. Similarly, passion is one of the seven keys to Pro Mindset. Passion is what drives hard work. Without it, it’s nearly impossible to make the sacrifices athletes must make in order to be the best within their respective sports.
This comparison shows that two keys of the Pro Mindset, purpose and passion, are integral pieces of Ronaldo’s mentality for success. To learn more about Pro Mindset and how you could use it to achieve your goals, check out Pro Mindset Podcast here.
Source: http://bit.ly/2MmjVeD