Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that the fear of being surpassed as the top player in world football allows him to continue producing at the highest level.
Ronaldo, 32, has enjoyed yet another stellar year, helping Portugal land Euro 2016 last summer, before leading Real Madrid to success in La Liga and the Champions League last season.
The Portuguese has claimed that he "cannot rest" due to fear of being surpassed by the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski and Gonzalo Higuain, and has said that he relishes the competition.
"To mention one [player] is hard, but the level that I am is like in other sports: Formula 1, NBA... the best players always follow the best players," Ronaldo told ESPN. "They want to be in the top of the game because the other ones are there. You cannot rest, because the other ones will pass you.
"Of course we fight with everyone, with Neymar, with Messi, Lewandowski, Higuain, with the best players in the world. This is not 'fighting' but it's healthy. We fight to be the best. It's my motivation - to be better than them, year after year."
Ronaldo and Messi, who have won eight Champions League titles between them, have dominated the Ballon d'Or over the last nine years.
Matt Law
