Champagne & extra training! How Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated Ballon d’Or win

Speaking in an interview on the Triplettapodcast by Gazzetta dello Sport, Davide Ancelotti, son and assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, shared an incredible anecdote regarding the Al-Nassr forward's work ethic. The story dates back to 2014, a year in which Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to claim his third Golden Ball after a record-breaking season in Spain.

According to Ancelotti Jr, the celebration was brief and strictly managed by the player himself. "When he won the Ballon d’Or in 2014, Cristiano toasted with a glass of champagne to celebrate. In the first training session, he asked to do an extra session to burn off the calories," Davide revealed. This obsessive attention to his physical condition highlights why the veteran still remains at the top of the game into his 40s.

Davide, who is currently preparing to assist his father with the Brazil national team at the 2026 World Cup, explained that this level of competitiveness was infectious within the Real Madrid dressing room. It wasn't just on the pitch where the squad looked to outdo one another, but in every single activity they participated in at the training ground.

"Is that the secret of champions? I think so, although sometimes it's exaggerated," Davide said. "I remember, for example, that at Real Madrid, two players whose names I will not mention competed in a badminton match at four in the morning, on their way back from an away game, because they had made a bet. And on another occasion, we had to dismantle the football-tennis court because the games were getting too intense."

While Ronaldo often steals the headlines for his physical conditioning, Davide also highlighted other Real Madrid legends who demanded perfection in every facet of their professional lives. When asked about the best players he has worked with, he was quick to name the midfield maestros who defined an era at the Bernabeu.

"[Toni] Kroos. But also [Luka] Modric, about whom I have a great story," Davide noted. "He always played with some socks under his Real Madrid ones. One day, at Rayo's ground, the kit man, who was like a brother to him, forgot to bring them. Luka got very angry. They were perfectionist players."

Turning his focus to his current role with the Selecao, Davide discussed the pressures of international management and the unique culture of Brazilian football. After a spell as head coach at Botafogo, he is now fully integrated into his father's staff as they eye global glory in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Referring to his upcoming goals, Davide said: "Now comes the World Cup alongside my father, then I hope to find a club that appeals to me. I already have some offers on the table and I want to decide before the tournament, but we'll see." Regarding the Brazil job, he added: "We believe that outside of Italy there isn't a culture of competing at all costs, but the passion I saw in Brazil, for the national team, but also at Botafogo, where I coached, is incredible. Everyone wants to win, and when you see the green and yellow jersey you can't help but feel a great sense of responsibility."