Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has come to the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo, emphasizing that the football icon’s remarkable drive and enthusiasm for celebrating his accomplishments are frequently misinterpreted as arrogance.
Event Context
Hernandez possesses a unique perspective on the true character behind Ronaldo’s public persona. During the 2014-15 season, he played on loan at Real Madrid, where he was a teammate of Ronaldo and had the opportunity to closely observe his daily routines and habits.
Player Focus
Chicharito, the Mexican football star, shared the field with Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United, where he netted 59 goals in 157 matches and clinched two Premier League titles. Additionally, he stands as Mexico’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals for the national team. In an episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents, Chicharito reminisced about the numerous tales he heard about Cristiano Ronaldo during his stint at United, later finding out that almost all of them were indeed true.
‘Being a Manchester United player and a legend, Ronaldo and I had that common ground. Our conversations were remarkable. He is very down-to-earth and approachable. I’ve never seen Cristiano as arrogant; that’s a misconception people often have.’
Hernandez noted that Ronaldo’s bold self-assurance has sometimes worked against him, as society tends to favor modesty over an athlete unabashedly embracing his own excellence. ‘Cristiano has always swum against the current, constantly needing to prove himself,’ he commented.
Chicharito also dismissed the idea of undermining one player to praise another, emphasizing that elevating Ronaldo doesn’t mean devaluing Lionel Messi, and vice versa. ‘There’s no need to disparage Messi to uplift Ronaldo; we are fortunate enough to have both of them,’ he expressed passionately. ‘When you say Ronaldo is a hard worker, it’s often misconstrued as implying he lacks natural talent. That’s simply not true.
Similarly, describing Messi as naturally gifted shouldn’t imply he doesn’t work hard. Both players have incredible dedication alongside their extraordinary talents. They are distinct athletes with unique stories and legacies. However, I believe Ronaldo faces a bit more bias due to his outspoken nature. While Messi is more reserved, which seems to give people more ammunition to critique Cristiano.’
Team Analysis
“It was incredible because I had discussions with you and another teammate regarding Cristiano while he was at United. There were numerous stories, and I was fortunate enough to join him as a teammate,” said Hernandez.
“All the tales you shared were accurate. He was competitive, even during dinner. This competitiveness stemmed not from arrogance, but from his desire to excel, not to overshadow others.”
Hernandez believes that Ronaldo has an ever-active internal competitive drive, which helps him manage the pressures of maintaining elite status in football for decades. “I believe there’s an internal switch within him—and in many footballers—that remains perpetually engaged. You must operate at your highest level every single moment to bear the weight of being the best,” he commented.
Hernandez also shared that their mutual dedication to arriving early for training and putting in extra gym work gave him the chance to see a different side of Ronaldo than the public usually sees. “I have countless positive stories about his character. While I may not have matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s work ethic, I have always made it a point to arrive early for training and the gym,” he explained. “If I needed to put in extra effort at the gym afterward, I did that as well. This commitment allowed me to spend time with him privately.”
The Mexican forward then shared his pointed views on the criticism often aimed at Ronaldo, who continues to play for both Portugal and Al-Nassr at 41 years old.
‘They could not criticise him in the past’
In moments of achievement, he would confidently affirm, ‘Yes, I did.’ When asked if he considered himself the best, his response was a straightforward yes, supported by tangible proof. The prevailing societal norm discourages self-promotion, often misinterpreted as arrogance. True arrogance lies in claiming superiority without evidence; conversely, acknowledging your accomplishments is merely honesty. If you fail to commend yourself, who else will?
Hernandez remarked on the current wave of criticism directed at him: ‘Many are speaking ill of him now because they didn’t do it when they should have. They couldn’t.’ He pointed out the irony that people are seizing this opportunity to criticize him now, despite the fact that at 41 years old, he continues to perform at an elite level. ‘It’s unfair,’ he added. ‘I hesitate to defend him because he doesn’t require it; the statistics speak for themselves.’
