How ‘insane’ Cristiano Ronaldo inspires Mohamed Salah – with Liverpool star naming his heroes & revealing ambitious trophy target at Anfield

Portuguese icon CR7 has spent two decades at the very top of his chosen profession, collecting five Ballons d’Or and breaking countless records along the way. Alongside eternal rival Lionel Messi, he is considered to set the standard for others to try and achieve.

• WHAT SALAH SAID

  Salah is among those that look to Ronaldo for guidance when it comes to maximising their own potential, with the Egyptian forward telling Liverpool’s official YouTube channel of the all-time greats that he admires most: “I love the way Ronaldo [of Brazil] was playing and [Zinedine] Zidane and [Francesco] Totti. These guys, I always looked at them and they just enjoy the game. Cristiano was also the one when I started playing in Europe more, you see the way he dedicated everything to football is insane, the way he looks after himself. You can see everything, his numbers.

  “But these guys I looked at when I was young and I just wished to play one game with them, or to be like them one day. I had a good opportunity to play with Totti and I played with him for two years in Rome. It was an incredible time, I just loved it. He was incredible to be fair and his technique was insane. Very, very good person as well.”
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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Salah has emulated many of his idols when it comes to collecting major honours, with Premier League and Champions League winners’ medals sitting among his collection. Liverpool are back in the hunt for more success in 2024-25, with Salah seeing no reason why they cannot sweep the board. He added on collective ambition at Anfield: “Win it all. In my opinion, I work so hard every day, I hate the idea that we are underdogs. No, we have an incredible group, one of the best in the world. In each position, you’re going to find players that are really one of the top three in the world. So, why don’t we win it? This city and this club has to always fight for everything.”

  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool, who are into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. They have also taken maximum points from four Champions League games this term – heading into a meeting with Real Madrid – and will begin another quest for FA Cup glory in January 2025.