Cristiano Ronaldo #7

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Cristiano Ronaldo may have chosen to play in Saudi Arabia instead of the USA but in November he was still invited to meet president Donald Trump at the White House as part of a visit by Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ronaldo's sixth participation at the World Cup (the same as Messi) is unequivocal proof of his consistency, ambition, and the rage against time. So much so that no one dares to speak of an epilogue as his extraordinary career could still see him score his 1,000th goal. At 41, he manages to carry the feeling that there is still more to write, which is in line with the demanding nature he has always displayed. He is the leader, the point of reference, the bridge between generations. “Of course, I really want to win [the World Cup] but honestly it won't change my standing in football,” he told Piers Morgan.

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