Cristiano Ronaldo given new nickname by Portuguese team-mates
Gossip & Rumours
By
Robert Nyanja
| Mar 20, 2018
Former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has landed a new nickname from his Portugal team-mates.
The Real Madrid superstar discussed the name as he was revealing his latest collaboration with Nike.
The Manchester United icon has been labelled El Commandant after he took over the armband with his national team.
Speaking to the media while revealing his latest boot range with Nike, Ronaldo said: “When you play for your country you want to win, you want to defend your colours.
“When I play for Portugal I feel happy, I feel good, not just for myself but for my whole family.
"My friends are Portuguese, my roots are there. To be captain of the Portugal national team makes me proud, of course it is great.
“I like to be the leader of the team. When I am there I am one of the oldest, with the most caps, most goals, everything.
“Size doesn’t mean anything, we are a small country but we win great and big competitions.
“El Commandant-I like the word, it means leader or power, in my opinion.
"If people give me that name, I am glad. I like to lead by example.”
The 33-year old has appeared in most World Cup and European Championships matches more than anyone else. He has scored most European Championship goals, with nine across tournaments in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.