Dan Gaspar, the former assistant coach of the Portuguese national team, has highlighted what sets team captain Cristiano Ronaldo apart, describing him as an "exceptional professional".
Gaspar served as assistant to Carlos Queiroz and as goalkeeping coach for Portugal in 2009, and he worked with Ronaldo—now plying his trade at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia—at the 2010 World Cup.
In an upcoming interview with Koora, Gaspar stated, "Cristiano Ronaldo's greatness lies not only in his talent, but in his discipline and his obsession with improvement."
The coach, who also holds Portuguese nationality, added, "People see the goals and the trophies, but they don't see the daily professionalism, the recovery routines, the competitive spirit, and the attention to the smallest details."
Gaspar, currently goalkeeping coach for Ghana, added: "Great players are not defined only by their drive on match day, but by maintaining world-class standards every day."
He concluded, "Cristiano brings his body, mind and heart to work every day. That combination is rare and unique; he is an exceptional person and professional—the perfect warrior."
Cristiano Ronaldo was named on Tuesday in Portugal's squad for the 2026 World Cup, as he prepares to compete in the tournament for a record sixth time.
On Thursday, he could also secure his first official title with Al-Nassr if his side beats Damac in the Saudi Pro League finale.