At his peak, Cristiano Ronaldo was considered the best professional footballer in the world. He has made over 1.100 professional appearances and scored more than 800 goals. To see him play, you would say he was born for the game. But that would discount all the struggles and hard work he has gone through to become the player that he is.
Cristiano was born into poverty on the Portuguese island of Madeira. His mother worked as a cook; his father was a gardener. He shared a room with his three older siblings. Ronaldo’s soccer life began with a small club at the age of 12, but shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with a heart condition that should have ended his career. However, he underwent heart surgery and returned to training a few days later.
At age 16, he left school to focus on soccer full-time. Soon, he was moving up the ranks, getting noticed by scouts (星探) in the Premier League. He had incredible quickness with the ball and was the type of player a club could build an attacking style around. He signed with Manchester United at age 18.
With his success in the league came big reward and fame. But he never forgo t his humble (卑微的) beginnings, or his mother’s sacrifice to raise him. She has been by his side throughout the entire journey. When asked by a journalist why his mother still lives with him, he said, “My mother raised me and she devoted her life to me. She would go to sleep hungry, just to let me eat. We had no money at all. She worked seven days a week and nights as a maid to buy my first shoes so I could be a player. All my success is due to her. She is my refuge (庇护) and my greatest gift.”
【小题1】What is the main reason why Ronaldo became a top player?| A．He was lucky. | B．He was talented. |
| C．He worked hard. | D．He scored the most goals. |
| A．No success comes easily. |
| B．Poverty often leads to success. |
| C．Family support is the key to success. |
| D．Success depends on one’s background. |
| A．He was young. | B．He played hard. |
| C．He had great speed. | D．He was a team player. |
| A．Rich and generous. | B．Successful and grateful. |
| C．Humble but creative. | D．Average but hard-working. |
