Adrian Silva: Cristiano Ronaldo’s confidence was mistaken for arrogance

Former Portugal midfielder Adrian Silva says Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-belief was often misunderstood, insisting the retired forward never received preferential treatment in the national team dressing room.

Silva, speaking in an interview with Kooora to be published later, said Ronaldo’s confidence and ambition were genuine rather than signs of arrogance.

“Sometimes his immense confidence in himself was misinterpreted,” said Silva, 37. “Anyone competing at the highest level needs to believe in themselves unconditionally.

“What some people described as arrogance was simply genuine ambition and the natural frustration of someone who hates losing.”

Asked whether Ronaldo had been treated differently by Portugal’s coaches or officials, Silva rejected the suggestion and said the Al-Nassr forward had earned his status through his performances.

“Cristiano Ronaldo earned his position on the pitch, through his performances, his achievements and his commitment to his country,” said the former Monaco player.

Silva added that Ronaldo’s influence in the dressing room came primarily from the example he set.

“The key to everything working so well in the dressing room was simple: he was always the first to lead by example through his hard work, his punctuality and his dedication,” he said.

“When your captain is the person working the hardest, he naturally earns the admiration of the entire group.”

Portugal face challenge after Ronaldo retirement

Silva believes Portugal cannot replace Ronaldo’s influence immediately following his retirement from international football, although he remains confident about the team’s future.

“You cannot replace a figure with Cristiano’s historical influence overnight,” he said. “However, Portugal currently has an exceptional generation of talent, developed through the outstanding work of the clubs and the federation.

“There is enough quality and maturity to build a strong, united team capable of continuing to compete for the biggest honours on the world stage.”

On who could take over the captaincy, Silva pointed to Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.

“Portugal remains in a very strong position,” he said. “Players such as Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have shown leadership, character and tactical intelligence on football’s biggest stages for several years. There certainly will not be a problem.”

Silva, who retired from football last year, won 26 caps for Portugal between 2014 and 2018 and played alongside Ronaldo in 16 matches.

Together they helped Portugal win the most important trophy in the country’s history, Euro 2016, beating hosts France in the final.

At club level, Silva played in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, in England with Leicester City, in France with Monaco and in Italy with Sampdoria. He also represented United Arab Emirates clubs Al Wahda and Dubai United before retiring.

Ronaldo announced his international retirement last week, following Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football around a month earlier. He ended a 23-year Portugal career after a major dispute with manager Jorge Jesus.