Former Manchester United midfielder, Nicky Butt, has praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality and professionalism, insisting the Portuguese star is far more approachable and entertaining than many people assume.
Butt, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo during the 2003-04 season at Old Trafford, said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is a popular figure among teammates and often joins in dressing-room banter despite his superstar status.
According to Butt, many people find it difficult to approach Ronaldo because they are overwhelmed by his global fame and success.
The former United midfielder also hailed Ronaldo’s commitment to excellence, attributing the forward’s remarkable achievements to relentless hard work and an unwavering determination to reach the top of the game.
Responding to criticism of Ronaldo’s work rate off the ball, Butt explained that experienced players such as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are selective with their energy, conserving it for moments when they can make the biggest impact in attack.
“He’s actually a very likeable lad, Cristiano. He’s a top lad, he’s a funny lad, he gets involved with all the banter,” Butt told Paddy Power.
“He’s obviously a mega superstar, a billionaire, but he is actually a good lad to have a chat with. It becomes other people’s problem; they’re a bit standoffish from him because they’re in awe of him.
“He’s present, he’s a very, very good team player. He might not look like that on a pitch, he can look like he’s just standing around.”
Ronaldo came under scrutiny after Portugal’s opening Group K fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he was unable to find the net in a frustrating outing against DR Congo.
The veteran forward, however, responded in style in Portugal’s next match against Uzbekistan.
He opened the scoring inside six minutes before adding a second goal before the interval, producing a commanding display that quickly eased concerns over his form and influence.
