KEYLOR NAVAS REVEALS ABOUT CRISTIANO RONALDO: “HE ALWAYS SAID ‘DON’T LET THEM SCORE, I WILL SCORE AND WE WILL WIN!’ – BUT OVER TIME, I REALIZED THAT SPIRIT HAD A HIDDEN ARROGANCE…”

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas recently shared his honest thoughts about his time playing with Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite his absolute respect for CR7, Navas also admitted that there were times when Ronaldo’s confidence and fierce winning spirit went too far, becoming “a form of arrogance” that made the whole team both admire and… tired.

In an interview with Marca, Navas recalled a special memory from a Champions League match in 2017:

“We were under a lot of pressure, the opponent was constantly attacking. When we stepped onto the pitch, Cristiano just said: ‘Don’t let them score, I will score and we will win!’ – everyone laughed, thinking he was joking. But it was true, he scored two goals and we won 2-0.”

Navas said that spirit is what makes Ronaldo different, a person who never accepts defeat, always believes absolutely in himself. For him, Ronaldo is not just a player, but the embodiment of confidence, of an unlimited desire to win.

However, over time, the Costa Rican goalkeeper also realized the other side of that confidence:

“At first, I admired the way he energized the team. But later, sometimes that spirit became too strong, to the point that others felt small next to him.”

According to Navas, Ronaldo could shout, demand, even get angry with his teammates when they made mistakes. But the thing is, after the match, he always came to apologize, saying ‘I just wanted to win’. Navas shared:

“He doesn’t do it to put anyone down. He does it because he hates losing. But sometimes, that desire makes the atmosphere in the dressing room very tense.”

This is also confirmed by many former Real Madrid players – that Ronaldo is someone who sets standards so high that almost no one can reach them. He wants everything to be perfect: from the way he passes the ball, the way he defends, to the way he celebrates. For him, every match is a battle and every goal is proof of greatness.

However, Navas also emphasized that, beneath that arrogant shell, there is a heart full of emotion and humility. He said:

“There was one time when I made a mistake that almost caused the team to lose. After the match, I was very sad. But it was Ronaldo who first came to pat me on the shoulder and said: ‘It’s okay, next time I’ll score three goals to save you.’ He was joking, but I knew he meant it.”

And indeed, in the next match, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, sending Real Madrid into the next round – a testament to both his words and the character of a legend.

Navas concluded:

“I used to think he was arrogant. But then I understood, he was just different. Ronaldo believed in himself in a way that very few people dare to believe. He didn’t just say it, he acted and proved it.”

Today, when Ronaldo has turned 40 but is still playing at the top level, Navas’ words are even more meaningful. Because whether some people love him or hate him, no one can deny that his confidence, bravery and unyielding desire have helped Cristiano Ronaldo become one of the immortal legends of world football.

Perhaps, as Navas himself said, “Ronaldo is someone you can hate during the game, but respect for the rest of your life.”