LONDON: There is something about Cristiano Ronaldo that means there is rarely any nuance in the response he elicits — people either love him or hate him.
For some, the ultimate Marmite footballer stands for everything that has turned them off modern-day football. The perma-tan, huge wage, and perceived ever-present narcissism just three things that people associate with the Portuguese preener. Add in his frequent on-field strops and it is not hard to see why the Real Madrid man might be seen as unappealing.
Lionel Messi, by comparison, does not suffer from such PR problems. On the whole the Argentine ace is viewed with nothing but adoration. His dodgy tax affairs swept under the carpet all that is uttered about him is about his supreme talent and supposed wholesome character.
As with much of life the above perceptions of both players are rather simplistic, and while Ronaldo definitely suffers from the notion that he is an arrogant egotist, there can be no doubting his ability with the ball at feet.
Put simply, Ronaldo is the best footballing athlete there has ever been. There is a tale of him training while on holiday in Dubai several years ago. He was on the treadmill at full pace running up a noticeable incline. Once he stopped all the trainers at the hotel gym (proper gym monkeys) stood and applauded in awe of what they had just witnessed. For all the showboating and images of fast cars and cash, people rarely see the effort he puts in behind the scenes.
And while Real have won three Champions League titles in the past four years down to having the best all-round team, there can be little doubt that Ronaldo was the driving force and the ultimate reason behind the success. Last season the 32-year-old scored 10 times from the quarterfinals of the competition as Real won a first La Liga and European Cup double in 59 years.
He will never get the love that Messi is showered with and, perhaps unfairly, will never be seen as being as good as his Barcelona rival. But at least with his four Ballon d’Ors and two Best FIFA Men’s Player titles Ronaldo can at least be content that when it comes to discussing the greatest players of all time, he will always, rightly, be part of the discussion, Marmite or not.
Ronaldo: The ultimate Marmite footballer
Ronaldo: The ultimate Marmite footballer
Home track advantage for Ameerat Alzamaan in the world’s richest race
- 2025 Fillies Mile winner looking to take her chance on Saudi Cup weekend
RIYADH: Saudi Arabian trainer, Sami Alharabi believes home track advantage could play to the strengths of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz’s runner, Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) in the Group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday.
The brilliant Red Stable filly, a daughter of Ghaiyyath, has been a local success story winning six of her eight career starts including the 1,000 Guineas and then the Fillies Mile on The Saudi Cup undercard 12 months ago.
“I have been very pleased with her condition and believe she is in much better shape now than she was previously, showing clear improvement,” said Alharabi.
“My confidence comes from the noticeable development I see in her daily training, which gives me strong belief in her progression.
“It is very exciting to have a runner in The Saudi Cup and I place my trust in God for the filly to deliver a positive result.”
The four-year-old was supplemented into the Saudi Cup after missing out on an automatic entry when finding only the reopposing Mhally (GB) too strong in the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup last month.
“I thought her performance in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was very good. It was a successful test for her, especially competing against seasoned and high-quality horses,” added the trainer.
She will race over 1,800 meters on Saturday, and Alharabi believes she will relish the longer distance: “The filly is versatile but I believe her ideal trip is between 1,800 meters and 2,000 meters, which suits her better than 1,600 meters.
“The Japanese horse, Forever Young, is the strongest and most dangerous rival and I anticipate a highly-competitive race, but the filly’s proven record at the track and her liking for the surface could work to her advantage and she will give a good account of herself.”
A jockey has yet to be selected, with Alharabi hoping for gates six or seven at Wednesday’s draw ceremony.
