There were many striking things about Ronaldo, the recently released film about Cristiano Ronaldo. His discipline and drive, his determination to be the best, are astonishing, even a little frightening. His relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes is fascinating, as are the insights as to what it means to be that famous. But perhaps most telling was his obsession—and there is no other word—with the Ballon d’Or.
That’s why, when he won it last year, his third success and his second in a row, he unleashed a visceral “Siiii!!” This mattered to him. He saw the award as something worth celebrating.