The captain of one of Africa's biggest sides has revealed what it was like trading jerseys with Al Nassr skipper and football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Earlier this year, Egyptian giants Zamalek sought to end their season on a high note by winning the Arab Club Champions Cup, but during the competition's group stage they came up against a formidable test when they collided with the Ronaldo-led Knights of Najd.
The White Knights came close to actually winning the encounter and progressing from the group, but those aspirations were dashed when the five-time Ballon d'Or winner netted an 84th minute equaliser from the penalty spot, consequently eliminating the north African outfit from the tournament.
After the match, it was Zamalek captain Shikabala who got to exchange jerseys with the Al Nassr hero, and the veteran attacker has now revealed how that experience came to be.
"I am a Barcelona fan and I adore Lionel Messi, but Ronaldo is, for me, an example of a football player," the Egypt international told On Time Sports.
"We were living in the same Al Nassr hotel during the Arab Championship, and Ronaldo knew that I played for the Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, which witnessed his debut, and we exchanged shirts after the end of the match.
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"Ronaldo lives his life for football only, trains hard, and pays attention to recovery and the foods he eats. He did not reach this level in a vacuum."
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