Manchester United star pinpoints the Cristiano Ronaldo trait that puts him above Lionel Messi

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Tom Heaton believes the drive and determination to improve every day has been the key to keeping Cristiano Ronaldo at the top.

Heaton was at Manchester United for both of Ronaldo's stints with the club, although the goalkeeper spent much of the first few years away on loan before leaving permanently in 2010.

The 37-year-old re-signed in the summer of 2021 and was joined in that same window by the returning Portugal forward. Ronaldo's spells at United bookended incredibly successful periods at Real Madrid and Juventus and the forward maintained his stance as one of the world's best long into his 30s.

And Heaton has seen the hard work behind the scenes that makes it all possible. ALSO READ: 'Teammates feel comfortable' - how Shaw has improved United ALSO READ: United's double injury boost among five things spotted in training “In my opinion, the GOAT (greatest of all time) is Cristiano,” Heaton told MUTV. “Having been here with him the first time and then seeing how he improved, how he got better and made himself into the best player in the world. “I’d just signed by the time he came back for his second stint, and seeing the same drive, hunger, being first in the gym, same appetite to work for me keeps him at that level.