Cristiano Ronaldo: Motivated by Fans

Cristiano Ronaldo’s heartfelt speech at Dubai Expo 2020 captivated audiences with messages of health, gratitude, and inspiration. As one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo shared his admiration for Dubai’s culture and innovation while emphasizing the importance of self-care, family values, and community. His words inspire the younger generation to believe in themselves and strive for excellence in every aspect of life.

Inspiration Through Health and Gratitude

Vocabulary Highlight:

• Gratitude (noun): The quality of being thankful and showing appreciation.
  • Example: “Cristiano expressed gratitude for his fans who motivate him to keep playing.”
• Motivation (noun): The reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.
  • Pronunciation Tip: /ˌmoʊtɪˈveɪʃən/
  • Example: “The cheers of his fans gave him the motivation to perform at his best.”

Grammar Focus: Using Imperatives

• Example from Text: “Listen to your fathers and follow good advice.”
  • Explanation: Imperative sentences give commands or instructions.
    • Structure: Base verb (without a subject)
    • Example: “Take care of your body.”

Simplified Explanation: In the sentence, “Listen to your fathers…,” Ronaldo uses an imperative to emphasize the importance of paying attention to parental guidance.

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Key Themes from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Speech

1. Health and Wellness:
   • Definition: Prioritizing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
   • Example: “Ronaldo stressed the importance of eating well, sleeping well, and staying active.”
2. Gratitude for Fans:
   • Definition: Acknowledging and appreciating the support from his audience.
   • Example: “He thanked his fans for being his motivation to keep playing football.”
3. Technology and Progress:
   • Definition: Using advancements in technology to improve performance.
   • Example: “He explained how technology helps him maintain fitness and practice smarter.”
4. Guidance for Youth:
   • Definition: Offering advice to inspire the next generation.
   • Example: “Cristiano urged young people to believe in themselves and take care of their health.”
5. Family Values:
   • Definition: Emphasizing the importance of listening to parents and maintaining strong family bonds.
   • Example: “He advised young people to value the wisdom of their parents.”

Ronaldo’s speech underscores the values of self-care, appreciation, and determination while inspiring audiences to embrace innovation and community.

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Key Lessons and Vocabulary

Vocabulary Highlight:

• Wellness (noun): The state of being in good health.
  • Example: “Daily exercise and healthy eating contribute to wellness.”
• Community (noun): A group of people with shared interests or goals.
  • Pronunciation Tip: /kəˈmjuːnəti/
  • Example: “Cristiano praised the Expo for bringing together a global community.”

Sentence Structure: Using Present Simple for Timeless Facts

• Example from Text: “We are all the same; we are human.”
  • Explanation: The present simple tense is used to state facts or universal truths.
    • Structure: Subject + base verb
    • Example: “Health is the most important thing.”

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Reflecting on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Speech

Vocabulary Highlight:

• Inspiration (noun): The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something.
  • Pronunciation Tip: /ˌɪnspɪˈreɪʃən/
  • Example: “Cristiano is an inspiration to millions worldwide.”

Pronunciation Tips:

• Motivation: /ˌmoʊtɪˈveɪʃən/
• Gratitude: /ˈɡrætɪˌtuːd/
• Community: /kəˈmjuːnəti/

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Conclusion

Cristiano Ronaldo’s speech is a powerful testament to the values of health, gratitude, and resilience. By encouraging young people to take care of their bodies, appreciate their communities, and embrace innovation, Ronaldo continues to inspire his fans both on and off the field. His message serves as a reminder that determination, self-discipline, and support systems are the keys to success.

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Learning Tips:

• Practice New Vocabulary: Use the highlighted words to describe your daily routines or goals.
• Grammar Exercises: Write imperative sentences inspired by Cristiano’s advice.
• Pronunciation Practice: Focus on the vocabulary tips provided to enhance clarity.
• Reflect on Themes: Summarize Ronaldo’s key messages in your own words and relate them to your life.

By learning from Cristiano Ronaldo’s insights, you can improve your English skills while embracing the values of health, gratitude, and motivation.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Thank you.
Thank you.

Host: Wow, Cristiano, Dubai loves you.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Thank you.

Host: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys. Thank you for being here with us at Expo… at the heart of the Expo, Al-Wasl Plaza. It is my absolute pleasure to be here with all of you and with one of the greatest footballers in the world. Cristiano, welcome to Dubai. Welcome to Expo. Welcome to Al-Wasl Plaza.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Thank you.

Host: Cristiano, people have been waiting for you. They are so excited. Around us here physically and virtually on virtual Expo, they’re waiting not only to see you, but also to hear from you. So are we ready to hear from Cristiano? So please have a seat, Cristiano. And we’re going to start our conversation. So let’s start.

Cristiano…

Cristiano Ronaldo: They’re not going to listen, eh?

Host: So can we start with the first question? Cristiano, you’ve been in Dubai for some time. How do you like Dubai? What are some of your thoughts?

Cristiano Ronaldo: Well, first of all, I have to say thank you to all of them for coming here. I didn’t expect that there will be so many people. But thank you. But Dubai, as people know, I love Dubai because they treat me unbelievable. I love the people. I love the culture. And I come in here every year. So it’s nice. It’s nice to be here. And I have to say thank you to all of them.

Host: And we welcome you to Dubai all the time. And Dubai, as I said, loves you so much, as you can see from your fans here. So my second question is, before we came up in this beautiful stage to welcome everybody, we went around the expo site. Was there anything about what you saw that made an impression on you when we went around?

Cristiano Ronaldo: Of course, yes. I think Dubai, they do unbelievable work to make all these countries together, 192 different cultures, different mentalities. So it’s great. I think… don’t surprise me, to be honest, because Dubai, they always bring something in a table, unique, different, and it’s spectacular. So don’t surprise me. But in terms of what they did, the expo here, for the first time, it’s amazing to put all cultures together to learn by each other. I think it’s fantastic.

Host: So one thing that we’re doing here in the expo, Cristiano, is to talk about things that matter to everyone. And this week happens to be the week of health and wellness. And we want to encourage everyone of all backgrounds, nationalities, especially the young people in the younger generation, to understand what matters to them, to inspire them to do change. The person that you are, Cristiano, the role model that you are, what is the advice or the tip that you give people here today and around the world on what changes that they can do to make the world a better place?

Cristiano Ronaldo: Well, first of all, I think this message should be for all of the people, not only here, but all the people who can have the opportunity to hear my advice or my opinion on what I do in my life. So as you mentioned, especially for the kids, that will be the next generation. As you know, I have four kids. I’m waiting for two more. So I want…

Host: Congratulations.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Thank you.

Host: And as you mentioned, the health is the most important thing. And you have to take care of our body, our mind, the spiritual way as well. It doesn’t matter about cultures or religions, because we are all the same. So I mean, to teach the boys how to take care of the body, to drink well, to sleep well, to training, to listen to their fathers, to give good advice, I think it’s about to follow the example. As you know, I’m going to do 37 soon, and I’m still play…

Host: 37 younger.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Exactly, because I treat good my body. I take care of my body. Doesn’t matter the age. Matter what you give to your mind and your body. And what I have to say to this young generation, it’s believe in themselves, listen to the fathers, try to educate themselves, learn as much as they can, because we are all equal. We are human beings, so we have to give example, our generation, older generation, to the smallest one. So what I advise to them, it’s take care of his body and listen to the fathers.

Host: So I hope everybody heard those key messages. Listen to your parents, take care of yourself, believe in yourself, which is really important. Cristiano, you mentioned that you’re going to turn 37 very soon. And you’ve been playing football professionally for around 20 years or more. Expo is about technology, about innovation. Is there any technology that has helped you to maintain your fitness, to improve your fitness, to help you in your practice? So how do you work with technology to help you to be the player that you are?

Cristiano Ronaldo: Well, definitely the technology helps a lot. It helped me, it helped all the people here, all the world. And I think we have to take advantage of that, but don’t be upset with that as well. For example, I can give you a small impression. For example, I have my oldest kid, Cristiano. He’s going to do it at 12 years old. And he asks me every time, “Daddy, can I have the phone? Can I have a phone? Can I have a phone?” I say, “Cristiano, you have time.” But I know as well that this young generation, they are one step ahead of when I had their age. So we have to take advantage of that. I agree. But not to be upset about the technology. Give them, but with a period of time. Not give them all the time. I think it’s the main point here.

Host: Absolutely. So Cristiano, our time together is coming to a close, unfortunately. So, before we go, what is your final, final message to all the girls and to all the boys here in here, Expo, in the heart of Expo, El Wasl Plaza, what would you like to send a message to everyone here, but also everyone virtually who have joined us, but also the world?

Cristiano Ronaldo: Guys, let’s listen now carefully, because what I’m going to say now, it’s coming from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t expect when I… Come on guys, let’s listen, let’s listen. I didn’t expect when this platform coming up that to see many of these people here waiting for me. I didn’t expect, to be honest. So, this is… You guys, you are my motivation to carry on to play football. Because without you guys, it’s the football will be less, because we’re guided by the fans. And just to feel that the warmth that you give to me, the motivation, the love, make me feel so proud. I don’t have words to express myself more than that, but I have to say thank you all of you to coming here. To listen a few words from my mouth. I know that you expect more, but sometimes the most important, it’s the short time that we appreciate. Sometimes we have a long time, but you don’t expect what we feel. And what I have to say now, it’s thank you very much to be here, to give this love, and I appreciate a lot. Thank you, guys. Thank you.