Madrid, Dec 7 (AFP) Portugal's favourite son CristianoRonaldo is expected to collect a record-equalling fifth Ballond'Or today, but the Real Madrid star is not the onlyPortuguese footballer to be crowned the best in the world.
The lesser known Ricardinho and Madjer have dominatedtheir respective disciplines of futsal, an indoor five-a-sideversion of football, and beach soccer thanks to the samemixture of talent and dedication that has made Ronaldo aworldwide phenomenon.
So how does a country of just 10 million people, that hasalso bred previous Ballon d'Or winners Eusebio and Luis Figo,produce such a range of talented players?"In my case, like Cristiano, Figo or Eusebio, it was aquestion of personality, of character, of learning and havingthe courage to say I want to be the best," Ricardinho, afour-time Ballon d'Or winner himself, told AFP.
Madjer's hopes of a career in the traditionalprofessional game were discarded by a motorcycle accident, butthe 40-year-old is still going strong on the beaches of Lisbon20 years after converting to beach soccer.
"We are able to combine our talent with an ambition forwhich we are able to make any sacrifice," the imposing 6ft 3inMadjer, the first man to score 1,000 international beachsoccer goals, explained as Portugal's secret to success.
Ricardinho is futsal's answer to Ronaldo in more waysthan mere nationality.
His Madrid-based Inter Movistar side are Europeanchampions and he too is expected to pick up a fifth Ballond'Or in the near future.
- More like Messi - ===================And he welcomes the comparisons to his compatriot, evenif his style and size are more reminiscent of Ronaldo'sBarcelona rival Lionel Messi.
"I am small like Messi, left-footed like Messi andsometimes I say I play more like Messi, but not that I likeMessi more," adds Ricardinho, whose trials as a youngster atPorto were cut short due to his small frame.
"I think I identify more with Cristiano because Cristianowanted to be the best, he wanted to score more goals and workharder than the rest. I see myself like that."However, Portugal's rich tradition of world beaters couldbe at risk if future generations of youngsters become moreattached to the modern day comforts of mobile phones and videogames that Ronaldo and he didn't have as children.
"You see few people going out on the street these days.
We need the kids to return to the street, not to have 10 in agroup and seven of them are on their phones." continuedRicardinho.
"There are more and more players that play like robots.
They pass from one side to another, run, defend. We need thestreet players.
"I know loads of players who have talent, but they don'ttake the risk to try things in a tough game or a final."Portugal made a breakthrough on the international stagewith a first major trophy when the side captained by Ronaldowon Euro 2016.
And inspired by Ronaldo, Ricardinho and Madjer,Portuguese players no longer have doubts over their ability tobeat more established football powers no matter theirdiscipline.
"Portugal always had talented players in the past, butthey didn't believe they had a chance when they faced the bignational sides like Brazil or Germany," said Portuguese sportscommentator Luis Freitas Lobo.
"Nowadays they say they can win. They no longer thinklike a small country." (AFP)ATK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.