It’s a shame as he’s my role model

by Ohio Digital News February 28, 2026

written by Ohio Digital News February 28, 2026

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has revealed his disappointment at his failure to line up alongside ‘role model’ Cristiano Ronaldo as a professional. The Brazil international has been at the Bernabeu for eight years, having joined the club as a teenager from Santos.

Rodrygo spoke with Brazilian YouTube channel Lives do Jon, revealing that he had hoped to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo when he joined Real Madrid. He termed it a ‘shame’ that he never got to play with the Portuguese great who he grew up idolising.

Thanks for the submission!

“I wanted to play with Cristiano Ronaldo, but it didn’t happen. It’s a shame as he’s my role model. I have always looked up to him”, he revealed (via GOAL).

Rodrygo signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 aged 17, the same summer that Cristiano Ronaldo left the club for Juventus. The Brazilian had to wait until 2019, when he turned 18, to officially make the switch to the Bernabeu from boyhood club Santos.

Ronaldo joined Los Blancos for a then-world record fee of £80 million in 2009, establishing himself as a club legend and one of the world’s best before leaving in 2018. He played 438 times for the Spanish giants, scoring 450 goals to become the highest goal scorer in the club’s history.

Rodrygo has become one of the world’s best players in his time at the Bernabeu, starring for the club as they have won multiple major honours. The 25-year-old has scored 71 goals and provided 57 assists in 296 appearances for the club across all competitions, and remains contracted until 2028.

Cristiano Ronaldo buys former Real Madrid adversary

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the latest football star to own a club after completing the purchase of a 25% stake in UD Almeria. The former Real Madrid star has bought the LaLiga 2 side as they aim for promotion to the top-flight.

Ronaldo is very well-acquainted with Almeria, having played against them on several occasions during his time in Spain with Real Madrid. He faced them seven times, scoring seven goals and providing five assists while winning six and drawing one of the games.

Ronaldo joins the ownership group of Almeria, with Saudi national Mohammed Al-Khereiji retaining majority ownership of the club. The Al-Khereiji-led Saudi Investment group took over ownership of the Spanish outfit in May 2025, and have steered the club to the brink of promotion back to the top-flight this season.