You probably can’t imagine it because of his rivalry with Argentine Lionel Messi. However, Cristiano Ronaldo has adopted customs from the South American country that surprised one of his former teammates at Juventus.
Paulo Dybala, a player who wears the colors of A.S. Roma and the Albiceleste with Leo, is one of the few people who can say he played with both legends on the field. And, while sharing a locker room, he noticed a habit of his own: drinking mate. Although Dybala has a theory about it, it never ceases to amaze him.
The habit of CR7 that unites him with Messi
In a YouTube chat with Agustín Creevy, a former Argentine rugby player, Dybala shared some intimate details about his time at Juve and what it was like to have Cristiano as a teammate, stating that the Portuguese player shared moments with the team both on and off the field:
“He hung out with us, if there was a team meeting he came, he laughed his ass off. Outside, you could talk about anything,” revealed Paulo, adding: “He drank mate, it was funny because he had a Peruvian thermos and it was a bigger mate. I laughed my ass off and teased him,” he recalled with a laugh.
The Portuguese star has left his mark during his time at Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United, and now Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Changing teammates and meeting new people and cultures due to his exposure, it was not difficult to imagine that he would adopt different and new aspects into his daily life.
Even his wife, Georgina Rodríguez, was born in the same country as Lionel and Paulo, so Dybala has a theory that Cristiano may have learned about this typical Argentine drink thanks to her.
In addition, Paulo recalled how rigorous and professional his Portuguese teammate was every time he attended training sessions and stepped onto the pitch: “He was very professional when it came to his care and routine; he didn’t budge an inch. He arrived at the appointed time, at 8 or 9 in the morning, and until he left, you could see that he always did the same thing. His mind was focused on that, and you realize that he was the same off the field,” he said.
He also highlighted how CR7’s leadership and presence were impressive and had an impact on the club, making his work an example to follow: “Players like him have a presence both on and off the field. He would grab the ball and aim for the goal. He didn’t care about anything else. He could lose the ball a hundred times and he would keep trying. They don’t like to lose at anything,” he recalled.
However, during the conversation, the comparison with Messi was almost inevitable, but ‘La Joya’ assured that both are worthy of admiration: “Technically they are different, they have different strengths, but they are both beasts on a psychological level,” he said.
Meanwhile, if Lionel Scaloni decides to call up Dybala for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and if the results are favorable, the 32-year-old could face his former teammate in the Portuguese player’s last tournament.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Dybala played a total of 17 minutes spread over two matches: the semifinal against Croatia and the final against France, to participate in the penalty shootout, where he took the second penalty and scored. Despite this, his presence in the Albiceleste has been declining due to injuries and Scaloni’s tactical decisions.
Argentina will be in Group J, alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. They will make their debut against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16. Meanwhile, in Group K, Portugal will face Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of the Intercontinental Playoff between Jamaica, Congo, and New Caledonia. They will play their first match on Wednesday, June 17, against the winner of the Intercontinental Playoff.
Will they meet again and drink mate together? Only time will tell.
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