Cristiano Ronaldo
Tag Heuer at football time
Born on the island of Madeira in 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (called Cristiano Ronaldo or CR7) began his professional career in Portugal, before joining Manchester United in 2003, where he scored more than 100 goals in 6 years. While leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009, he is the subject of the highest transfer in the history of football! Best Portuguese scorer of all time and the first player of the Europa League to realize 40 goals in one season for two consecutive years, he made the feat of scoring 69 goals in 59 games in 2013 … Two-time winner of the Ballon d ‘Or, the Real Madrid striker and captain of the Portugal team for the next World Cup in Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest paid player in the world, today joins the prestigious team of athletes and celebrities representing the vanguard brand for Swiss watches, Tag Heuer. A few days before the 2014 World Cup, Prestige met the football superstar.
© Tag Heuer
“My common points with Tag Heuer? The desire to change things, to push the boundaries and impose our own rules! ” What is your relationship with time? Time is part of my daily life. In football, it is a crucial fact: it’s all about time and speed. You have to be fast and accurate at the time. And as the game progresses, the concept of time becomes important. Scoring in the last minute can change the face of a game and make all the difference between success and failure, victory and defeat. What is your idea of luxury? For me, luxury is not ostentatious. It is more a question of care given to detail, ultimate comfort, long-lasting products that are of the highest quality. What is the secret of your success? There is no secret. Motivation and self-transcendence are the keys to success: we must work harder than others. And never forget that it is always possible to improve, to grow every day. What makes you a “Time Changer”? Since the beginning of my career, I have been fortunate to establish some records and make a contribution to the history of football. I also have a particular style that belongs to me. It is the combination of all this that makes me a Time Changer. How do you recover between matches? During the season, I really do not have time to do anything other than football, especially a season like this one that will culminate in an international competition, specifically the World Cup. Between practices and games that take place every three days, the pace is intense. When I manage to find a little time, it is with my family and friends that I choose to spend it, in Madrid and Portugal. I also communicate a lot with my fans on social networks. What are your personal goals? Continue to advance in my game and win new trophies. I will do everything for the success of my club during the season and lead Portugal to victory in international matches. Do you set yourself your own challenges? The club and coaches always set very high goals for players, and the fact of imposing challenge to myself belongs to me. I take one new every day. This is the best way to go forward. Why did you choose Tag Heuer as a partner? When the team of Tag Heuer contacted me, the project seemed obvious. I already knew the brand, I always appreciated it for its products and what it represents. The Tag Heuer brand manufactures high-end timepieces, it maintains strong links with the incredibly high level sport … It was perfect. We share the same values: personal investment, discipline, transcendence. And the fact to never give up. What feeling does it give you being an ambassador of Tag Heuer as well as huge figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, Maria Sharapova or Jenson Button? This demonstrates the power of the brand and its desire to partner with the greatest. All current ambassadors of Tag Heuer, as well as the old ones as Ayrton Senna or Tiger Woods, are icons that have changed the situation in their respective fields. How would you describe a Tag Heuer watch in a few words? The watches are high-end Swiss Made with the utmost care to detail. They are very aesthetic. These are watches that I can wear all the time, regardless of location or occasion. What is your favorite watch? It’s hard to choose but I would go for the Carrera Chronograph Calibre 1887. It has a look that is both chic, casual and sporty. “There are a thousand ways to express oneself on the ground, to be creative, to defy the expectations of others, to surprise yourself …”
© Tag Heuer
What idea do you have about your watch? Do you use it to be on time for your appointments, it is rather an accessory or some kind of jewelry for men? It is all at once! A functional male jewel, like the clothes I wear, should be a reflection of my style. According to you, what is in common between football and watches? Being a good player requires a lot of work and training. One must constantly repeat the same movements and be extremely accurate, be bold, be well prepared and equipped. This is exactly the image I have of the work of the watchmaker each new watch is the result of extensive research on the design and technological innovation. What importance do you attach to the quality of the watch you wear? It is extremely important to me, especially the accuracy and finishes. It is very important for me that the image I give is a fair reflection of my personality. Quality is one of my requirements. Were you interested in watches before becoming an ambassador for Tag Heuer? Are you a collector? I would not say that I am a collector but I have always loved watches. When I like a product, it is important for me to know everything about it. Its origin, function, history of the brand, who produces it … That’s why I already liked watches before becoming an ambassador of Tag Heuer. I’m really pleased that this partnership will allow me to learn even more about watch making. At what point, exactly, your destiny switched? In 1997, when I left the island of Madeira, and my family to play in the Sporting Club of Portugal. Then, when I joined Manchester United in 2003.These are critical moments of my life because in both cases I was very young, still a child. Do you respect rules or you prefer to challenge them? Of course, rules are made to be respected, especially if you are a professional player. But the game is rich, there are a thousand ways to express oneself on the ground, to be creative, to defy the expectations of others, to surprise yourself. A tip for the next generations of “Time Changers”? Believe in yourself no matter what happens, push your limits, work as hard as you can.
© Tag Heuer
