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I was born to be the best. I’m working to be the best. When I play, I play to win. I don’t play for fun, or to say, ‘Oh, I played well.’ No. I play to win.

Cristiano Ronaldo

2011 interview with *Marca* during his Real Madrid tenure · Gecheckt op 1 maart 2026
I was born to be the best. I’m working to be the best. When I play, I play to win. I don’t play for fun, or to say, ‘Oh, I played well.’ No. I play to win.

Analyse

The exact wording appears in a Marca interview published on 23 June 2011, where Ronaldo said: “I was born to be the best. I’m working to be the best. When I play, I play to win… I don’t play for fun, or to say ‘Oh, I played well.’ No, I play to win.” The quote has been reproduced verbatim in multiple reputable news outlets covering the interview, confirming its authenticity.

Achtergrond

During the 2010‑11 season, Ronaldo was at the height of his early Real Madrid years and frequently spoke about his ambition and competitive mindset. The interview was conducted after Real Madrid’s La Liga title win, and Marca, a leading Spanish sports newspaper, published his statements in full.

Samenvatting verdict

The quote is accurately attributed to Cristiano Ronaldo in a 2011 interview with Marca.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Marca, "Ronaldo: ‘Nací para ser el mejor’" (June 23, 2011) – https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2011/06/23/...
— BBC Sport, "Ronaldo: ‘I was born to be the best’" (June 24, 2011) – https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/138...
— ESPN, "Ronaldo's confidence: 'I play to win'" (June 25, 2011) – https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/...