Cristiano Ronaldo to his haters: 'I need the enemy. It is part of the business'

The most iconic Real Madrid player of the last decade has been, without a doubt, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet he, like any in his profession, is often at the receiving end of less-than-kind sentiments.

Whether he's being compared unfavourably to his rival at Barcelona, Lionel Messi, or attacked by those tinged with envy for a man who seems to have it all and then some, Ronaldo is one of the most divisive figures in sports.

But, Ronaldo explains, that hate isn't an obstacle in his professional career.

"I don't mind people hating me, because it pushes me. When I go to play away, they are always against me, but it’s good," Ronaldo told The Times, as quoted by FourFourTwo. "You have to see the good things from the haters. I need the enemy. It is part of the business. They start screaming when I touch the ball. It had started already when I was 18 or 19. It is not a problem for me. It is a motivation."

In particular, it is in comparing Ronaldo against Messi that many see a line divided; Messi strikes a modest figure, a player who was blessed with talent and isn't big-headed for it. Ronaldo, conversely, commands the attention of a player who has an ego to match his skill.

It's a perception Ronaldo acknowledges, but not one he sees as an accurate measure.

"I am not the humblest person in the world, I admit that. I am not fake," Ronaldo explained. "But in one way I am very humble. I like to learn, I want to learn from other sports, the best athletes. What are they doing? You can improve on this, on that. I think it is interesting. A person who is like that, they are humble – because they like to learn."