Ronaldo Nazario: I trained because I had to, CR7 does it because he loves it

Although they share a name, Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't be more different in terms of their approach, the Brazilian has claimed.

In fact, one of the major things that sets them apart is their approach to training and keeping it.

"We are different in terms of our position on the field and our way of interpreting the game, even if Cristiano does now play in a more central position," Ronaldo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He has a different way of approaching the goal with respect to how I did, even if our goal was the same.

"I think we are maybe equal in our desire to score goals but it is no coincidence that Cristiano has reached 33 years of age in this kind of form.

"There are so few players who take care of their body like he does and still has so much desire to improve.

"I'm not saying the way we approach training is completely opposite but it is certainly different.

"I trained because I had to, he does it because he loves it."

The former Real Madrid forward also insisted that given the different eras the pair competed in, they simply cannot be compared, while also acknowledging that World Cup performances in a Ballon d'Or year play a massive part in determining the result.

"We are nine years apart but the years in which we played are very different," explained the former Brazil international.

"I don't want to say that the time I played in was more difficult but we faced different situations with different teams.

"In terms of the Ballon d'Or, we the players made it clear and everyone knows it, it is a prize that is determined by the results.

"In the World Cup, Luka Modric and Croatia had a better tournament than Portugal and Cristiano did."