Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I didn't think I'd be a professional'

Ronaldo, who began his youth career at just eight years old at CF Andorinha, has previously claimed that he experienced poverty during his upbringing and did not believe he would ever make it.

The 30-year-old has now admitted that he never thought he would go on to be a professional footballer, let alone have three Ballon d'Ors to his name, in addition to medals in England, Spain and the Champions League.

"Everyone in my family loves football," Ronaldo said in an exclusive interview for Herbalife.

"I remember one day playing in the street. My father said to me, 'why don't you come into the club when I work?' I say yes, why not. And I started to play.

"I go to training every day and I liked being part of a team. I trained every day and my father was there to help me.

"In the beginning, I felt that I was different to the other kids. I did not think that one day I would be a professional, playing for Manchester United or Real Madrid or Sporting.

"I would just play to enjoy but I was never thinking I have talent and I'm going to be a professional. In the beginning, I did not feel that.

"But after three or four years, I started thinking 'I want to play there' and I started watching the games and then I started to dream about it."