Laszlo Boloni, the coach who recognized the talent of the Portuguese superstar at a young age, played a significant role in Cristiano Ronaldo’s early career. At just 17 years old, Ronaldo was already part of Sporting Lisbon’s first team and had the opportunity to showcase his skills in the preliminary round of the C1 Cup in 2002.

During that match, Ronaldo played for a total of 58 minutes, leaving a lasting impression on Boloni. The coach acknowledged that Ronaldo’s talent surpassed that of his teammates of the same age and even believed that he had the potential to surpass iconic Portuguese players such as Luis Figo and Eusebio in the future.

Mr. Boloni explained, “I decided to promote Ronaldo to the first team because of his great shape, speed, and impressive technique. It was evident that he possessed exceptional skill combined with remarkable speed.”

The decision to bring Ronaldo into the first team was an easy one for Boloni. After witnessing his performance, the coach realized that Ronaldo’s abilities surpassed what was expected of a player his age. He displayed a level of football maturity and ball control that were beyond his years.

Ronaldo’s demeanor in the locker room was joyful, but once he stepped onto the field, he became a focused and serious player. His style of play was far more advanced than that of other players his age. Boloni was unsure at the time if Ronaldo would become one of the best players in the world. However, he was confident that avoiding injuries would lead to his success. In a conversation two decades ago, Boloni predicted that Ronaldo would surpass the achievements of Figo and the renowned Eusebio, which has become a reality in today’s football.

The year that Mr. Boloni approaches his 71st birthday is the same year he will persist in his coaching career. Currently leading Ligue 1 team, Metz, he is recognized as a strategist who supports CR7, despite not having an impressive list of accomplishments. Initially labeling Ronaldo as a striker, he later deployed him as a winger, allowing him to unlock his full potential, catching the attention of Manchester United in 2003.

Despite his youthful age, Ronaldo weighs only around 60 kilograms, which often puts him at a disadvantage when facing heavier opponents, weighing approximately 100 kilograms, as he struggles to retain possession of the ball. Due to his speed and dribbling skills, it is more advantageous for him to play on the wing. “Although Ronaldo faced initial challenges, I’m glad I made the decision to position him on the wing,” Mr. Boloni expressed.

Furthermore, this coach believes that Ronaldo needs to make minor adjustments to his playing style to achieve greater success. “I tried to convey to him the effectiveness of dribbling past a few opponents, rather than attempting to dribble past many. Given Ronaldo’s intelligence, he is headed in the right direction,” he added.

When asked about the superiority between Ronaldo and Messi, Mr. Boloni immediately favored CR7, admitting his bias as Ronaldo has always been his favorite pupil since their time together at Sporting. With over twenty years of professional experience, Ronaldo has mastered his physical and technical abilities, allowing him to continue playing at the highest level even at the age of 38.

In the previous year, CR7 emerged as the leading goal scorer, netting 54 goals across all competitions. People anticipate the upcoming European Championship in 2024 to possibly mark Ronaldo’s last Euro and a victory for him.