I've never seen a champion as hungry as Ronaldo - Ex Portugal star Costa

Cristiano Ronaldo - Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo's insatiable desire to win trophies has remained throughout his career, according to former Portugal star Rui Costa, who claims he has never seen a more hungry champion.


Costa played alongside Ronaldo in the 2004 European Championships when Portugal lost in the final to Greece on home soil.

The playmaker spent the majority of his career in Serie A with Fiorentina and AC Milan before retiring in 2008, and he is now sporting director at Benfica.

Costa told Tuttosport : "How is he different? In the ambition. Never seen a champion more hungry than him. He lives every game as if it was the last of his career.

"With Cristiano I played the EUROs of 2004. Then he was a kid, but we were all old. We knew very well that he would become a Ballon d'Or winner.

"An anecdote? Cristiano was a crazy dribbler and every training session he showed us incredible things, and always different, with the ball.

"We almost never succeeded. Unfortunately, I did not have time to serve an assist to CR7."

Ronaldo in action for Portugal - Getty

Ronaldo captained Portugal to a 1-0 victory over France in the 2016 Euro final, with substitute Eder scoring the winning goal.

That result completed a remarkable double for the forward after he had already picked up the Champions League trophy for Real Madrid that year, and he would go onto win the later competition in the next two season.

And at his new club Juventus, Ronaldo has already played a crucial role in The Old Lady's European campaign having netted a stunning hat-trick against Atletico Madrid to seal a 3-2 aggregate win on March 12.
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Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's return, Portugal were held to goalless draw by Ukraine in the opening game of the Euro 2020 Qualifiers.

Euro 2020 Qualifiers Friday, 22 March Games and Results - HERE  👀👈