Here is the full transcript of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview with English broadcaster Piers Morgan, Premiered November 4, 2025.
The Interview Begins
PIERS MORGAN: Cristiano, how are you?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m good, my friend. And you?
PIERS MORGAN: I think I interview you every three years, and in three years, an amazing amount of stuff happens in your life. Do you ever stop and think your life is insane?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I never thought about that. But I have to agree with you, it’s true. The last interview that we made was hard, honest, like always. This is what I pretend to do with my interviews, which is I don’t do it a lot because of that, because less is more, as you say. But in this time, I promise I’m going to be a good man.
PIERS MORGAN: You’ve told Gio you’re not going to be too controversial.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I say, because I shared with her that I’m going to give interview to you, and I say I promise that I’m going to be a good man.
PIERS MORGAN: Do you think you’ll keep that promise?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes. Today? Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: Okay, we’ll see how you get on.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Let’s see.
The Arsenal Connection
PIERS MORGAN: I love your… We’re in Saudi Arabia, your home in Riyadh. I love your man cave here. But there’s one problem. You know what it is? Where is the Arsenal shirt that I gave you?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I feel it.
PIERS MORGAN: I mean, where is it?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s inside the…
PIERS MORGAN: I mean, come on. You know, it still kills me, the revelation that you made last time, that you could have been an Arsenal player, that you met Arsene Wenger. You were going to come. It was all done, all agreed. And then… You know who I blame for this? John O’Shea. You know why I blame John O’Shea? Because Sporting Lisbon played Manchester United in a friendly, and you terrorized John O’Shea so badly that four of the United team went to Sir Alex Ferguson, their manager, and said, do not leave before you sign this kid. And he didn’t leave, and he signed you that day. True story.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: This is true story. But it’s as I told you, Piers, the past is gone. It’s part of the life. And honestly, when I look at Arsenal, I’m always looking not like a rival.
PIERS MORGAN: Like…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I was nearly there. So I’m not going to say that I have a passion for the club. But when I look at Arsenal, I like the team. I like when they win because of that story. But, you know, I was the life. You know, I was the football. It’s all about opportunities and moments. And this is what I see. And I took that opportunity. But to be honest, and you know that I’m never lie, or sometimes…
PIERS MORGAN: Well…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Sometimes I’m lying for a good way. But I was nearly there in Arsenal, to be honest. But I think my story not will change. A lot will be similar.
PIERS MORGAN: Well, it won’t change for you, but it changed for me.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I don’t think so. Because Arsenal still continue a top team and win titles and everything. Big players. So maybe Arsenal will be better, but not…
PIERS MORGAN: Not what it could have been.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Not too much.
PIERS MORGAN: Do you think we’ll win the League this season? Arsenal, the top of the League?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Could be. It’s possible. I think the Premier League, it’s… The level of the teams is very, very similar. I mean, the top ones. But, you know, the Premier League, it’s always… You never know what’s going to happen. It’s very, very difficult league, very tough league. But Manchester not going to win the League for sure because they have so many points behind right now. It’s possible, yes, but I don’t believe on that. Arsenal probably.
PIERS MORGAN: Give me… Give me some hope here. Come on.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yeah, yeah.
PIERS MORGAN: I need the big dog to give us the…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s possible. Let’s see.
PIERS MORGAN: Let’s see it come out of your lips. Yes, Arsenal can win the League.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes, Arsenal can win the League.
PIERS MORGAN: Thank you. I’ve got my sound bite.
Manchester United’s Struggles
You mentioned Manchester. You’re probably talking about City, not United. Last time we spoke was a very different situation. You’d fallen out with the people at United. You wanted to leave. You did leave. Pretty much everything you said in that interview has been borne out by events. So even though it caused huge controversy, I don’t think anyone can look back at that interview and say you weren’t being completely honest and that the problems you identified were obviously true.
There’s not been much improvement. I mean, if anything, United have gone backwards since that interview. What is going wrong with United, do you think? And how can it get fixed?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Well, as you mentioned, good for me. I’m sad because of the club that one of the most important clubs in the world and a club that I still have in my heart because of the obvious reasons. You have to follow with the intelligent people, smart people to create a base for the future as Manchester United have so many years ago.
Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Beckham, they become big players, but they had youth. So Manchester United right now doesn’t have a structure. I hope that change in the future, present future, because the potential of the club, it’s amazing. It’s one of the most important clubs of the century.
PIERS MORGAN: Do you still look out for United results and does it hurt you to see how badly they did?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Of course, of course. Because I was to play there so many, many years. I win The Champions League there. I win the Golden Ball. I win 12, 13, 14 titles there. So, as I say, and I repeat, Manchester United still in my heart.
I love that club. But we have all to be honest and look for ourselves and say, listen, they are not in a good path, so they need to change. And it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion.
PIERS MORGAN: There’s a young Portuguese coach there now, Amorim. What do you make of it?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: He do his best. What are you going to do? Miracles. Miracles? This is impossible. We say in Portugal, miracles is only in Fatima. And I don’t know if you know this, that expression. They start to smile because they don’t know. Yeah, you know, the Fatima. And you’re not going to do miracles. Even the players. Manchester United have good players, but they don’t have some of them. The mind. What is Manchester United? Yes.
The Billionaire Revelation
PIERS MORGAN: You became a billionaire last week. And I was the one that told you. I was the one that told you, because I messaged you. Have you seen this?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s not true.
PIERS MORGAN: It’s not true.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m a billionaire so many years ago.
PIERS MORGAN: I knew you’d say that. I knew you’d say that. And you probably were right. Yeah.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: With 39.
PIERS MORGAN: How did you know? Who told you?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Please. I know my money.
PIERS MORGAN: Do you know exactly what you’re worth? Really?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Not precise, hundred percent. But of course you have to take care of your stuff. It’s normal, you know. I’m not… I’m not to look. But I have people around me who help me, you know, to do the right things in all areas. But financial, I have a guy who I spoke almost every day, not about that, but about my structure, the investments, the opportunities. And I have control, you know, because it’s my life, it’s my money.
PIERS MORGAN: You know that moment when you realize you’re a billionaire? What was that like?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I knew that this will happen, so I was prepared. It’s a matter of time. So, honestly, I was super happy. It’s when you won a Golden Ball. Because you make your own goals. You make your own goals. Everyone makes this own goals. To build a house, to have a car. Or it was my goal to reach that number.
PIERS MORGAN: Because…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes, yes, honest. I’m not obsessed for the money, because I think the money you can help. It can help you too, in many ways. But when you reach some level, the money doesn’t matter anymore, in my opinion. But it’s always good to have more. Because we are human beings, we are never happy with what we have.
That is something that I learned during the time that financial is important, the money is important, but other things, they are more important than that. But to answer your question, I was super happy because it was one of the main goals that I had on my mind. Apart from football trophies, Champions League, Golden Balls, trophies, everything financial in a business way. It was my goal. So with 39, I reached that number. And I was so proud, to be honest.
PIERS MORGAN: And now the world has caught up, and Bloomberg did this report, and you were declared the first ever football billionaire. The first ever. And there are a very small number of sporting icons who have passed that mark in other sports. Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, you could talk about Michael Jordan, but there are very few. Cristiano, you could…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m the only one.
PIERS MORGAN: You’re the only one in football. Does that mean a lot to you to be the only one?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Well, don’t surprise me a lot, because if you say the story of football and they can talk, they can call me cocky or whatever, but the numbers don’t lie. Something that I’m always saying, and I will continue to say, if you see so many records in football, Cristiano is there in the top of the list. So it’s one record more.
So for me, honest, don’t surprise me, because I knew my potential in football and my potential outside the football. Don’t surprise me, to be honest. I knew that I’m going to reach that number for many reasons. But deep inside, there was… One of my goals and my motivation is still… You say, but money continues your motivation for football? No, but helps, in my opinion.
PIERS MORGAN: You said about records that you don’t chase record, they chase you. In a way, the same applies to money, I would think, is that if you keep your performance levels at the level you held them, then obviously the brand is maintained, the revenues come in. Right. I mean, it’s all performance related.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: This was my strategy a few years ago and say if you continue to be in the top level and continue to perform, that number will reach to you. Because as you mentioned, good. Everything, it’s together, you understand? So it was my plan, if you ask me. You thought that you will reach so quick? Probably, no, but I knew that I will reach that, and it was good.
The Luxury Lifestyle
PIERS MORGAN: Show me your left hand a minute.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Which one do you want to see? This or this?
PIERS MORGAN: Well, I’m looking at both and thinking your left hand is probably worth more than I have in my life.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: No, no, no.
PIERS MORGAN: And I’m not a poor man, Cristiano, but this… This arm is…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s not that much.
PIERS MORGAN: I mean, this watch alone.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: When they see Cristiano, when they see the bling, they say, “Wow, Cristiano have diamonds.” But sometimes it’s…
PIERS MORGAN: It’s fake.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: But they don’t… They don’t realize because I’m Cristiano and I believe that it’s fake. I’m joking.
PIERS MORGAN: What is the most…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s a present. I’m going to say no. People give me…
PIERS MORGAN: Really.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Georgina offered me this in the Christmas, and I have a sponsor with Jacob, so I didn’t buy with my own money. I have the sponsor. You understand?
PIERS MORGAN: What is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Most expensive. Most expensive thing I ever bought. A plane.
PIERS MORGAN: A plane?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: I love the way you had to think about that, but it was…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: What kind of plane?
PIERS MORGAN: I have my plane since I 13 years old, but I changed right now one year ago, so it’s a little bit expensive.
PIERS MORGAN: What model do you have now?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I have a Global Express.
PIERS MORGAN: Nice. I mean, that’s a sign, isn’t it? That’s a… That’s a moment when you have your own plane, isn’t it?
Cristiano’s Relationship with Wealth and Material Possessions
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Since I had 13 years old, so I have 10 years the plane. But I changed for a better one now. But as I say, please, for me, it’s… I tell you before, the money gives you opportunity to have material things, which is good. But I’m in a moment of my life that for me, I don’t care anymore about that.
For me, the most important things… I want to live the next chapter of my life with not expensive costs, let’s say, in that way. Because my dreams is already gone. I mean, when I was young, twenties and the thirties, I used to love cars and everything to drive. I don’t have that passion anymore.
Planes, I just have because I need. Because I’m not normal person. I cannot be in our world. I buy because of that. And of course, let’s say, it’s help me the word… like a comfort. Yeah, it’s like a comfort, but I don’t look for that anymore. I just want to be happy, enjoy the life.
As Carl Jung say, after the 40s, you really know and you start to live the life. And this is what I start to feel, that for me the money is good, but it’s not important anymore.
PIERS MORGAN: But you mentioned normality there. And you clearly can’t lead what people would consider a normal life. You can’t go whether it groups of people, because you’ll be mobbed. And I’ve seen it. But having said that, you’re probably the most normal billionaire superstar I know.
Genuinely, you’re just very regular. People always ask me about you. I go around and people come up to me all the time, and it’s like, what’s Cristiano like? What’s he really like? What’s he really, really like? And I say, Cristiano, he’s just a normal guy.
We message a lot. And you’re just a regular… you’re like one of my mates, right? You don’t carry with you the airs and graces of somebody who feels entitled to any of this. I get the feeling that you never forget where you came from. Probably your mother, I think, and your family make sure that doesn’t happen. Gia probably does too.
But I think you enjoy the trappings of your success. But I don’t think it’s changed you as a person at all. I think you are actually surprisingly normal.
Staying Grounded Despite Fame
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s difficult when you speak about you. But as I told you before, and this is what I feel, I don’t care. You know me, I don’t care what people thinking about me. And if they say that I’m cocky, that I’m arrogant, I don’t care.
Honest, with four kids, have the best friends ever. I have the team that they help me a lot. Public opinion for me is not important anymore. I just want to be happy, to do what I like to do, to still maintain my level in football, score goals, which is still maintain me happy.
And still, I’m still happy when I go training, compete in the training. And I think I’m a normal people. I don’t spend money, for example, I’m not good shopping. If I go anywhere, I can buy whatever I want. But I don’t need that anymore.
Sometimes, okay, let’s say three days ago, I buy a car, but it’s for collection. It’s like you buy a frame. I’m not going to drive that car. It’s like investment.
PIERS MORGAN: What was the car?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Mercedes. Sorry, I have Mercedes as well. I buy Bugatti as well. Tourbillon, but it’s investment.
PIERS MORGAN: How many cars have you got now?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I don’t know, Piers.
PIERS MORGAN: You don’t know how many?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I don’t count the cars. Serious, I don’t count.
PIERS MORGAN: I love how you make that sound so normal that you…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: But it’s normal.
PIERS MORGAN: You don’t know how to be humble.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It’s is a fact.
PIERS MORGAN: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. Yeah, maybe 50.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Honest, if you have to bet, I say I don’t know. 41, 40. I don’t know, Piers. I don’t know. I swear. I swear for my kids.
PIERS MORGAN: What’s your favorite?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I love the Bugattis.
PIERS MORGAN: Yeah?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes, I have a few and they are different. They are different beasts.
PIERS MORGAN: Did you ever drive these cars?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I never drive.
PIERS MORGAN: Really?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I have, for example, I was one week in Madrid and not even go my garage to see the cars, if they are there. Just the day that I left, the car, the two Bugatti went to the inspection and they coming back and just look at them. They are good, they are clean, they are good, they go to the garage. But it’s honest, for me, the cars not anymore a passion.
PIERS MORGAN: Do you ever drive? Yes, you do?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I drive.
PIERS MORGAN: You can drive around.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m not driving a lot in Saudi because we used to training in afternoon. And I go always with the driving.
PIERS MORGAN: And the traffic is terrible.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: And the traffic is terrible. But for example, when we go, when we’re coming back to home, it’s not traffic. So yesterday, you know the Al Nassr, they have the sponsor with BMW and all the players have a new car. So yesterday I drive home with my new BMW home, but I’m not driving like in Saudi. Like one year, well, six months, let’s say.
Goals, Substitutions, and Team Dynamics
PIERS MORGAN: You mentioned goals. You just scored two more goals for Portugal. You then got substituted in the 77th minute and the opposition, Hungary scored a last minute equalizer. I can only imagine how you were feeling.
I would have one rule if I was your coach. If Cristiano has two goals, never stop him getting a hat trick. Because I know you and you would do anything in your power to win the game, but to get a hat trick. So how did you feel about being yanked off without being able to score your hat trick?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Honest, even the goals. Sometimes we think the easy way will be the better way, but it’s not. Sometimes I know what you mean, but I have to be in the mind of the coach as well.
Maybe you want to keep the result, to put another player to save the result that is fresh, that they can help to defend more the team. I understand. And a part of that I have to agree with the coach. Because we are not all the same. We are not thinking the same way.
So if I will stay, I will try to score the third goal. But substitution sometimes is good. Even if you have two goals. Not a problem for me anymore because I scored so many hat tricks. So one more, one less for me.
PIERS MORGAN: Your goal scoring record since you turned 30 is ridiculous.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Is more than…
PIERS MORGAN: More than before you were 30. I mean, there’s no player in history that has… that you’ve scored 948 career goals now.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: So last week, all with videos.
PIERS MORGAN: Exactly. So there’s proof. I’ve heard you say that. You’re right. There’s proof of every goal. Do you remember your first one?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: The first goal I scored professional?
PIERS MORGAN: Yeah.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Moreirense. Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: What was the goal?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: You should see the goals.
PIERS MORGAN: Is it good?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Unbelievable. Really. Oh, the second goal. No, the first goal. Unbelievable goal.
PIERS MORGAN: So you started with an absolute worldy.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: You didn’t see this goal?
PIERS MORGAN: The first amazing video. I need a video of this goal.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Unbelievable. This is what it was. The moment that the people say, listen, this guy going to be good.
PIERS MORGAN: Really? Yes. Okay, let’s have a look at this.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Oh, oh. Step over.
PIERS MORGAN: Oh, first team. Wait, that is a… that’s a banger.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: And the shirt came up good, huh?
PIERS MORGAN: Oh, what a goal.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Even the commentators, they say, this is why these players that don’t stay longer in our league. With 17, for me is like… it was a big boom for me.
PIERS MORGAN: Like that feeling, that first goal. And it was a great goal. But that first goal, is that where you first got that rush, where you were like this? Okay, I love this.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Now you, this is… give you confidence for yourself. You say, wow, I play with the men, so they want to stop me. But even with 17, I was quicker than them, smarter than them and score. This is where you start to feel that you going to be… I’m not going to say Golden Ball, whatever, but a good professional player.
Favorite Players and Inspirations
PIERS MORGAN: Who’s been your favorite player to watch ever?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: To mention one player, it’s… I think it’s not…
PIERS MORGAN: Is there one… like if the television’s on and there’s a match and there’s a certain player in the last 20, 30 years and you’ve gone, I’ve got to watch that because of this guy.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I watch the game, I watch the players. To watch something because of one player? No. I watch, for example, Brazil because they have many players. They have Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka. Yes. I watch, I don’t know, Argentina because of the players that they have. I watch Spain, I look in that way. Not because of one player, honest.
But I have to respect that in the state of football, you have many, many, many, many great players and stars. Players, which is you enjoy more than the other ones, of course, but to follow a game only because one player? No.
Thoughts on Retirement
PIERS MORGAN: Could you imagine retiring?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: Have you got in your head an age when that may happen soon?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: But I think I will be prepared. Will be tough. Of course. Will be difficult. Yes. Probably I will cry. Yes. Yeah, normal. And I’m easy guy to cry. I’m not keep my feelings. I’m honest. I’m open person. Yes. Will be very, very difficult. Yes.
But please, I prepare my future since 25, 26, 27 years old. Prepare my future. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure.
PIERS MORGAN: What could bring you anything like the joy of football, of actually playing football, because you clearly still love playing. What outside of football do you think could even come close to replacing that? Anything or have you accepted nothing?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I think nothing will be compared that the adrenaline that we have for football, to score a goal. We’ll gone this way. But as I say, everything at the beginning, everything at the end. So I think I will be prepared, I think.
But I have another other passions. I’m going to have more time for me. I’m going to have more time for my family, to raise my kids, especially the Bella that I have three years old. That I start to feel when I travel and stay so many days in the hotel with the team, kind of a rush.
I want to follow Cristiano Jr. because it’s in the moment of the age that it’s… they’re a little bit stupid. They do stupid things, normal. Because I did the same. I want to Matteo that I love football as well. I want to be more family person, more present.
Also to have my own hobbies, which is… I like, you know, I like to see UFC, the fights. I like Padel, for example. It’s our main sport.
PIERS MORGAN: I hear you.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Very good sport.
PIERS MORGAN: Are you good at Padel?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: We learn, me and my friends, my closer friends. It’s something that we being together, unit. So it’s good. I like and I want to learn something more about my companies, other stuff about. For example, I’m not never going to…
YouTube Success and Digital Presence
PIERS MORGAN: Be YouTuber, of course, but I’m… 76 million subscribers.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I want to be there.
PIERS MORGAN: You got that about three months. I mean, you say you’re not going to be a YouTuber. You’re one of the biggest YouTubers in the world. I struggled for three years to get to 4 million and thought I was a genius. You come along and in about three minutes you overtook me.
The Future Beyond Football
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m going to spend more time on that to learn to do more stuff. I think I’m going to do the funny things and things that I’m not used to doing before because, as you know, for me the perspective that I have, football is not only about going to the training ground, training one hour and doing treatment. I live football 24 hours, let’s say in that way, to do the right things to perform.
Because by my age, the things are getting more difficult to recover fast. But I’m enjoying this process. It’s nice that you see the life with different eyes and with a different vision. You have different ideas. For me, it’s a good challenge. Even with my age, I’m enjoying this period of my life because you learn so many things and you start thinking about other things, not only in football, and it makes you happy.
PIERS MORGAN: Which of the brands do you really enjoy working with? I know that you’re big in real estate. For example, I know about your aftershave. I use it. It’s very successful, I have to say. I mean, people go, “Oh, you smell like Cristiano.” But you’ve got so many different things you’re involved with. Which are the big ones for you that you’re most engaged with?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: YouTube. We start to do few things with YouTube. The image is always there. As you say, the real estate is my real passion and people don’t know that. I’m a challenge person in some business that people don’t even dream about that I mentioned in the interview. I’m a person that always wants to learn, not only in the business way but also in life, for the new chapter of my life that starts to get a little bit more mature in some decisions you have.
PIERS MORGAN: I don’t want to reveal a secret, but you have a video game room around the corner with about eight consoles and I noticed you’ve got an esports award there. I mean, you love all this stuff, don’t you?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yeah, it’s the future. As you mentioned, the esports. I’m ambassador of that huge event that they do every year here in Saudi. I have to appreciate our boss MBS. He gave me that opportunity to be the ambassador of the E Games, which is, if you never saw, you should be here to see. It’s a great event and I’m here in the country of course because of him as well. So it’s a guy that I really respect and I’m here because of him. So we do fantastic things for the country, especially gaming.
The Engagement to Georgina
PIERS MORGAN: Let’s turn to the other more important deal you did recently. Your engagement to Georgina, the most important. I mean, come on.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry.
PIERS MORGAN: This is the biggest deal.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: If not, you kill me. Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: Now, you’ve managed to resist getting married into your 40s. Well, you haven’t got married and you’re 40, right? But finally you proposed. So talk me through this. What made you decide to finally pop the question?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m always saying the things, the good things come in the right time. And sometimes you need time to realize that you don’t do some mistakes. I don’t mean in that way. I’m going to propose to her because I think it’s the moment. Not only because she’s the mother of my kids, but also she’s the person that I love more, is the love of my life.
So I think it’s the right moment. As you say, we’re 14 years old. Nothing going to change. Nothing going to change just because we’re going to marry. It’s just a beautiful chapter of the life. It’s good.
PIERS MORGAN: How did you propose?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: It was funny. It was funny. I knew that one day I will do that. But I don’t know which way. It’s difficult. I don’t know. You are married?
PIERS MORGAN: Yes.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: When you propose to your wife, you never know the moment, the scenario, the environment. And I’m always saying that the good things come in a natural way. Football, life, opportunities, marriage. And it came in a funny way. Because she asked me something. She asked me for a ring to offer her. Because it was one of her dreams to have like a good stone.
And I worked hard, worked hard. And I finally found what she loved. And I spoke with my guy. And I said, “Listen, keep it. We’re going to do a dinner tonight. And after, I’m going to offer it to her.” And this is what we did. But something after, I stayed with her alone. And one of my friends, they took the phone and started filming, which they never did before. I know that friend for 10 years, they never do this. Not even ask me to take a picture.
PIERS MORGAN: Imagine.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: And they were filming me. I said, “Wow, weird.” And after, it was like 1 o’clock, 1 a.m. My daughters weren’t in bed sleeping, Alana and Eva. And one of my friends gave me the ring to offer Georgina. I was giving the ring and my two girls came in and they said, “Daddy, you’re going to give the ring to mom and you’re going to ask her to be married.”
And I said, “Wow. Is the right moment to say yes.” I said yes. It wasn’t a timing. And Georgina didn’t believe. Yes, yes. I knew that I would do it one day.
PIERS MORGAN: But you hadn’t planned it for that moment?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: No. And it was the moment that my daughters came in. And I said, “Yes, now is the time. This is what I want.” And I offered it because my daughters were saying that, my friends were filming me and it was…
PIERS MORGAN: Were they there, the daughters?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes.
PIERS MORGAN: Did you get on bended knee?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I didn’t do that because I wasn’t prepared and it was a beautiful moment.
PIERS MORGAN: Did you make a little speech or did you just…
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I did. It was recorded.
PIERS MORGAN: What kind of thing were you saying?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I said simple. Please. Come on. I’m not like a romantic guy. I am…
PIERS MORGAN: It sounds very romantic.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I’m not a very romantic guy. I’m not that kind of guy that brings flowers every week to the home.
PIERS MORGAN: This is a big moment.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: One per month. Let’s say not every week. But I’m romantic in my way, you understand? But it was beautiful and I knew that she was the woman of my life. So I did that. And I hope that I did it right.
PIERS MORGAN: Did she hesitate?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Of course not.
PIERS MORGAN: No.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: No. But one thing that I loved, she didn’t care about the ring. She asked me if I was, if I spoke the truth. “So you’re honest? Honest. You see, it’s honest. I want you, blah, blah, blah, I want to marry you, blah, blah.” But she didn’t believe. But it was funny.
PIERS MORGAN: Did you cry?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I didn’t cry, but I was like… Because I saw her reaction. I had tears in my eyes. Yes.
Overcoming Tragedy Together
PIERS MORGAN: And was that because of the cost of the ring or both? I’ve seen that ring. Both. I’ve seen human beings get blinded by that ring when she walks around. Last time we spoke, you’d gone through a very sad period as a family. You’d lost your baby son. You talked very movingly about that. That kind of experience can damage a relationship or it can make it stronger. Clearly, in your case, it must have made things stronger for you. Do you feel that?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: I feel that we always support each other. Sometimes it’s like in a relationship, you have good moments, bad moments. It’s part of the journey. But probably in that period we consolidated more the relationship because of what you say. But even this is something that I learned by the time. Even in the worst moments, you have to make the things move, because not only when you are there in a good moment, that’s not going to come.
The bad moments, try to find the balance for everything in the good moments and in the bad moments. Back to the basic points. A baseline. And this is something that I learned. It was a difficult period. But it was nice, honest, it was nice because I learned so many things. I saw another perspective of life. My daughter now, which is three years old, she’s the queen of the family. She’s the one who makes the house happy. Everything happens for a reason. I believe in that. So we are a blessed family. So I’m proud of that.
PIERS MORGAN: For those who don’t know Georgina, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. What is it about her that made her so special to you?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Well, she has so many things, good things that I love, that I believe she’s unique in that way, which is she takes care of me, which is very important. She takes care of the family. She takes care of the house, which takes a lot of work. If you want to be the opposite, I will… I’m not going to deal with that. Men cannot deal with that. Honest.
And she’s special for me because apart from her qualities, beautiful body and everything that I like, she’s a person that understands me and takes care of me and my family. So this is what I’m looking for.
PIERS MORGAN: Was your mom happy when you told her?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Yes, I believe they are happy. My whole family. It’s something that I think that it’s good for our family. Not just for my family, kids, wife, but also for my mom, brothers, sisters. I think they are all happy because they say they see that I’m a grown man now. So they are happy. And as I say, and I continue to repeat, it’s a new chapter of life.
Wedding Plans
PIERS MORGAN: Do you have a wedding day yet?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Not yet. We plan to do it after the World Cup with the trophy.
PIERS MORGAN: But do you know where you want to get married?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: We didn’t plan that because she is not the person that likes big parties. She doesn’t like it. She likes private things. So I will respect these decisions because I’m not…
PIERS MORGAN: More importantly, have you decided on where the stag party is going to be and can I come?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Why not?
PIERS MORGAN: Thank you.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: We do an interview.
PIERS MORGAN: Ah, now is he organizing it?
CRISTIANO RONALDO: José, Joseph organized everything. Our CEO organizes everything.
PIERS MORGAN: Have you got a stag party? I mean, we’ll be talking a week, a week somewhere.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: You are part of the family. Please.
PIERS MORGAN: Thank you, Cristiano.
(PART 1 CONCLUDES)
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