'I was nervous!' - Cristiano Ronaldo confesses using AI to craft speech at Portugal Football Globes gala after receiving 'special' honour

Ronaldo may have conquered the footballing world with his unmatched achievements, but even the legendary forward gets nervous when it comes to public speaking. In an unexpected twist, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner confessed to using AI technology to help craft his acceptance speech at the Portugal Football Globes gala.

Ronaldo, who was awarded the prestigious Globe Prestige Award at the event, admitted that he felt a little out of his depth ahead of delivering a speech and turned to Perplexity to get him over the line. 

He said: "I have a few trophies at home, but I have to say this one is special and beautiful. Well, what can I say? I think everything has been said. I have to confess that this afternoon I was at the table thinking about what I was going to say in this speech. I was thinking, 'What is a Prestige Award?' I wonder if it's an end-of-career award. I got a little nervous and thought, 'It can't be.' So I did some research on Perplexity, if you don't know, then search to see what it is, and I got a little help."

Ronaldo’s journey isn’t just about club success; the 2026 World Cup is now firmly in his sights. As Portugal look to build on their success in the 2025 Nations League, Ronaldo is determined to add the World Cup to his already impressive list of honours. Although he stressed how important this latest award was for him, he emphasised that it wasn’t the end of his story: "This trophy is a source of great pride for me. I don't see this trophy as the end of a career, but rather as a continuation of everything I've done, my entire career."

Even at the age of 40, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. The Portugal star is still at the top of his game, continuing to smash records and lead his country to glory. With an astonishing 223 international caps and 141 goals, Ronaldo’s numbers are staggering, and it’s clear he’s far from finished. Over the years, Ronaldo has achieved legendary status, winning league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, along with a multitude of Champions League triumphs. And despite being in the twilight of his career, he’s still hungry for more, now chasing silverware in the Middle East with Al-Nassr after securing a new two-year deal. 

Ronaldo is set to feature in Portugal’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Ireland and Hungary, where he will look to add to his goal tally and continue his pursuit of international greatness. While eternal rival Lionel Messi may have taken the 2022 World Cup title with Argentina, Ronaldo’s drive to be the best hasn’t softened one bit. His commitment to Portugal remains unwavering, and the opportunity to play in yet another World Cup is the ultimate goal to secure another shot at the golden trophy in North America next summer.