Cristiano Ronaldo and Piers Morgan. In many ways (some of which become apparent in this article), they are absolutely made for each other: Ronaldo is just about the most famous footballer in the world and Morgan can possibly say the same as an interviewer. He’s certainly the go-to person (with an honourable mention for Sean Evans) for the stars. The New York Times
United on a ‘good path’
The last time Morgan interviewed Ronaldo, it led to the end of his second spell at Manchester United. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2022 after Ronaldo accused then-United boss Erik ten Hag of disrespecting him and slammed the mentality of the club’s younger players. Goal
Piers Morgan loves to massage Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego. The outspoken British journalist is an insatiable status hunter, and reeled in his biggest fish some time ago with endless public declarations of admiration, eventually building a bromance that has earned him exclusive access to a footballing icon. But it is not one built on the foundation of truth. Goal
Ronaldo the billionaire
Almost 20 per cent of the interview is taken up by Ronaldo talking about how rich he is. At the time of recording, it had just been reported (according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index) that he had become the first billionaire footballer. “It was my goal to reach that number,” he adds. “I’m not obsessed for the money, but when you reach some level, money doesn’t matter anymore, but it’s always good to have more.” The New York Times
Retirement
“Soon,” Ronaldo states. “But I will be prepared. It’ll be tough and difficult, of course. Probably I will cry, yes.” He added: “I’ll have more time for me, my family, to raise my kids.” The New York Times
Kidding himself
Ronaldo is obviously trying to cling to relevancy. There would be no need to keep word-vomiting negativity about United if he felt secure. But despite his best efforts, only the real die-hard CR7 supporters are following his exploits in the Saudi Pro League with any genuine interest. Goal
World Cup U-turn
“If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream,” he replied. “Define what? To define if I’m one of the best in history, to win one competition, [of] six games, seven games. You think it’s fair?” Goal
Images
Source: Goal
Source: The New York Times
Share Your Thoughts
What impact could the interview have on Ronaldo’s legacy and public perception?
Do you agree with the media criticism and fact-checking of his claims?
How should footballing institutions, clubs or agents respond to high-profile interviews like this?
What lessons can fans and journalists learn about celebrity interviews and context?