The Portuguese attacker is still going strong at 34 and the former attacking midfielder is amazed by his motivation to stay on top of the game
Cristiano Ronaldo's motivation to stay at the top of world football comes from his rivalry with Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Kaka says.
Ronaldo and Messi have been regarded as the best players in the world for over a decade, having won five Ballons d'Or each while in competition at Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Portuguese attacker has maintained his incredible form since leaving Madrid for Juventus, having already scored 24 times in 36 games in all competitions.
At 34, Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down and former Madrid and AC Milan hero Kaka believes he is spurred on by his desire to stay ahead of Messi.
"It doesn't surprise me for what it is, it surprises me because he's still at this level," Kaka told La Gazzetta dello Sport of the Juventus star.
"I believe there is also a Messi effect, the infinite challenge, this desire to always outdo himself. At 34 and after so many successes, Cristiano still finds surprising motivations."
Madrid have struggled since Ronaldo left for the Italian champions. They were eliminated from the Champions League last-16 by Ajax, beaten in the Copa del Rey by Barcelona and are nine points adrift of their Catalan rivals in La Liga.
But the recent return of coach Zinedine Zidane is expected to stabilise the Santiago Bernabeu outfit and Kaka is intrigued to see if the Frenchman can replicate his previous success without Ronaldo.
"The cycles end," he added. "Certainly, the result with Ajax is a bit unusual. Now Zidane is back, a great coach who has won three Champions League titles in a row.
"Let's see what he will do without Ronaldo."
Ronaldo is in contention to finish the season as Serie A's top scorer, but he faces competition from Sampdoria star Fabio Quagliarella and 23-year-old star Krzysztof Piatek, who has carried his incredible Genoa form on to AC Milan.
ballstar
190
Messi literally, *physically*, can’t effect a game the same way Ronaldo can. He can’t wait for balls to come in the box for him to head. It’s so much harder for him.
chekwitamunang
146
ronaldo and Messi is just like vegita and sangoku one is a born talent and the other works very hard to surpass him. Messi is goku and cr7 is vegita
Musamessi
122
compare ronaldo to suarez ) not messi why would u compare a striker to a complete player ...just why
educatea
105
Messi is the most skillful talented player but ronaldo could walk into any team and make them better. Not sure messi would have that same effect with any team
danny7_ida
83
When you see a 34 year old man play with so much motivation and passion after winning so many titles it's amazing. Ronaldo is in an amazing position in his life now and could easily go to China and become the highest paid player in the world. Talent without hard work is nothing. People emphasize on roads ronaldo's hard work but I think messi is hardworking too he has remained on a top level not everyone can be at that level with just talent. Messi is also hardworking if you guys don't know. They both work hard. Do you guys think messi just sits in his living room and drinks Pepsi.... Big fat no. Messi is where he is because of hardwork and years of training. Both are exceptional
Foblnru
69
I think it's the other way around... Messi is still at the top because of his rivalry with Ronaldo
vumbnoprz
49
can we all just stop arguing about these two monsters.... just appreciate dem cos they do things differently with the same end product... some will say ronaldo doesnt construct or messi doesnt score with his head or weaker foot... but all the fuss about football is to put the ball in the back of the net so which ever way u achieve as long as u get the goals its ok... i love dem both but am more sentimental towards ronaldo but i really cant see any difference in what they are doing... the records they've both created will take hundreds of years to break so just stop comparing and appreciate both of dem
Fasdemo
40
Shameless Ronaldo..
teycoo
32
People talking bout Messi having talent and Ronaldo having none,guess you all have forgotten how Ronaldo used to dribblee during his times in Man utd and first years in Real madrid,the thing is Ronaldo has combined hardwork and talent plus Ronaldo has become more bulk makes him abit more physical for the headers and to shake away defenders which is suitable against all league team defenders at same time he has become abit more stiff..Anyway what matters is he delivers when the team needs him most since this is how football is judged in 21st century.. #Cr7
madair
18
Messi literally, *physically*, can’t effect a game the same way Ronaldo can. He can’t wait for balls to come in the box for him to head. It’s so much harder for him.
so if the quality of crosses isn't good enough, Ronaldo can't affect the game. So Ronaldo is more dependent on the quality of other players to showcase his own quality.
vfc1
13
Messi literally, *physically*, can’t effect a game the same way Ronaldo can. He can’t wait for balls to come in the box for him to head. It’s so much harder for him.
youdekmoz
10
Messi literally, *physically*, can’t effect a game the same way Ronaldo can. He can’t wait for balls to come in the box for him to head. It’s so much harder for him.
He literally can't wait? 😂 😂 😂 😂 May be because he has a much harder task of dropping deep, creating the play, breaking the defense with his passes AS WELL AS score?. Ronaldo is expected to wait in box and try to finish the goals while messi is asked to create the goals as well as score them. Isn't it much much harder??