'Very lucky to have met him' - Cristiano Ronaldo hailed by Joao Felix for being an 'example in football & life' as Barcelona star also names Harry Kane as one of players he admirers most

Evergreen Ronaldo is still going strong at 39 years of age, with the iconic frontman showing no sign of slowing down with Al-Nassr and Portugal. He has hit 42 goals at club level this season and will be leading another quest for European Championship glory with his country this summer.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is a role model to millions all over the world, with Felix among those fortunate enough to have grown up watching CR7 before one day working alongside him. The 24-year-old forward has told Tot Costa of his legendary countryman: “He is an example for everyone in Portugal, in football and in life. We are all very lucky to have met him and to have seen him play.”

While understandably being a big fan of Ronaldo, Felix has named the other global superstars that he looks to take inspiration from. He added: “I like the way [Kylian] Mbappe plays, both when he receives the ball at his feet and when he enters space. He has quality, he is very decisive and makes a difference, he is perhaps the best striker in the world. Harry Kane is very good, [Erling] Haaland scores a lot of goals and [Robert] Lewandowski is one of the best strikers of recent years.”

Felix is currently working alongside Lewandowski at Barcelona, as the Portuguese takes in a loan spell at Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid, and he could be joined in La Liga next season by Mbappe as the World Cup-winning Frenchman is heavily linked with a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid.