Manchester United wing ace Cristiano Ronaldo says he'll continue
introducing new tricks to his game.
Ronaldo told the Daily Mail: "I was born with my ability. The
stepover, for example, is something I did as soon as I started in
my first teams. I used to play football on the street when I was a
boy, and every day I tried to do different things.
"I always tried to invent new dribbles, new moves. Things would
come into my mind and I'd try them. I think this attitude stayed. I
always looked to have my own identity. That was my dream.
"The tricks came with me. I didn't watch football on television.
But, of course, other players inspire you. I used to go to watch my
cousins and brothers, and sometimes I would try and do the same
things as them. My father was a kit man for the local club; I was
always with him, watching the matches.
He added: "I wasn't always big. Even when I left Madeira at 13 I
remember people saying I couldn't become a professional because I
was too short. Then, suddenly, between 15 and 18 I jumped up and
became as tall as I am now.
"But in the days playing in the street, it was always against
older, much bigger, boys. I suffered because I had good ability and
I dribbled a lot, suddenly I'd be pushed or tackled hard and I was
out of the game. Sometimes when I tricked them, they didn't like
it. They beat me sometimes.
"But it never stopped me being the player I am. I've always had a
strong personality, because when a defender tackles you hard or
challenges you mentally, you can't show weakness. You have to try
and get over it and beat them with the ball."
Ronaldo has more end-product to his skills now, too.
"Nowadays it doesn't matter what tricks I do, they have to be of
use to the team.
"If you want to be one of the best players in the world, which I
want to, you have to learn all the time. Another thing I have to do
is finish better and get more goals. If you are a good scorer
people see you in a different dimension. In a couple of years, if
I'm scoring more, people will think better of me."
