Cristiano Ronaldo reacted to former teammate Fabio Paim’s joking that he should have one of his Ballon d’Or awards. Paim was Ronaldo’s boyhood pal, and he revealed out about his friendship with the Manchester United and Real Madrid icon.
Paim revealed a playful request in an open interview with PT Clips, asking that the Portuguese great award him one of the Ballon d’Ors. The interview piqued Ronaldo’s interest on Instagram, and the Al-Nassr star voiced his surprise.
‘Who is this guy?’ wrote Ronaldo in response.
Both the footballers were destined for greatness when at Sporting Lisbon’s academy, as the similarities between the two were remarkable. Paim, like Ronaldo, was praised for his exceptional abilities on the pitch. According to his interview with The Sun, his talent drew the attention of footballing behemoths like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Paim’s career, however, was fraught with unanticipated difficulties, and his transition from a bright teenager to a professional athlete wasn’t a great one. Paim represented nearly a dozen clubs in seven nations while struggling to establish himself. He did not make a lasting impression at any of them.
His career took a turn for the worst when he was fired from Union 05 Kayl-Tetange in Luxembourg for unprofessional behaviour. Paim was charged with narcotics trafficking in 2019. However, he was subsequently cleared of the accusations.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, had a meteoric rise from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United. After an outstanding spell at Manchester United, he went to Real Madrid, where he became a legend, smashing records and solidifying his place as one of the greatest players in football history.Ronaldo, aged 38, plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia on a lucrative contract after winning five Ballon d’Ors throughout his career.
