Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football legend, is no stranger to breaking records and making headlines. But there’s one quirky metaphor that Ronaldo has often associated with his goal-scoring prowess: ketchup.
The Ketchup Theory
The story begins in 2010, a period when Ronaldo was struggling to score for Portugal. It had been 16 long months without a goal in the national jersey, and the drought was the talk of the football world.
In response to the pressure, Ronaldo shared a piece of advice he had received from a football legend: “Goals are like ketchup. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it just won’t come out. But when it does, it all pours out at once.”
Fast forward to 2023, and fellow Portuguese forward Diogo Jota echoed Ronaldo’s sentiment after ending his own goal drought. Jota, who scored twice in Liverpool’s 6-1 victory over Leeds United, recalled Ronaldo’s words on Sky Sports: “A goal is like opening a bottle of ketchup; after the first drop comes out, everything comes out at once.”
A Night to Remember in Monaco
Ronaldo’s ‘ketchup’ philosophy was front and center again during a special night in Monaco. At the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League draw ceremony, Ronaldo was honored with a special award for his extraordinary contributions to the competition.
With records like the most goals scored, the most goals in a single season, and the most hat-tricks, Ronaldo’s legacy in the Champions League is unparalleled.
However, since joining Saudi club Al Nassr last year, Ronaldo has been absent from the Champions League. UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin, while presenting the award, joked, “I have a problem with Cristiano. He no longer plays in the best competition in the world (UEFA Champions League).”
In response, Ronaldo hinted at a possible return to Europe, saying, “Everyone knows that the Champions League is the pinnacle of football. Not only did I get a chance to play, but the record speaks for itself. But I don’t mean that. I mean, the joy of playing in this competition…that’s our motivation. And football…no one knows what will happen next. Let’s see what happens in the future.”
Ketchup and Glory
When asked which of his five Champions League titles was the most special, Ronaldo couldn’t help but return to the ketchup analogy: “The first is always special, from my time at Manchester United. Of course, winning four times with Real Madrid was incredible. I remember feeling the pressure in Lisbon in 2014, but in my opinion, goals and titles are like ketchup. Once it starts coming out, it just keeps coming.”
This analogy rings true for Ronaldo’s career. After joining Real Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo won the Champions League four times in five years, from 2014 to 2018, following his 2008 victory with Manchester United.
A Final Word from Legends
The Champions League draw ceremony also saw Juventus and Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon on stage, receiving the 2024 UEFA President’s Award. Ronaldo, ever the showman, couldn’t resist a bit of banter with Buffon. When Buffon drew Juventus’ name from the pot, he quipped about Ronaldo scoring against him in every match.
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Presenter Reshmin Chowdhury, of Bangladeshi origin, also recalled Ronaldo’s famous bicycle kick goal against Buffon in the 2018 Champions League quarterfinals. Ronaldo, standing on stage, playfully apologized to Buffon in Italian, “Scusa Gigi, scusa (sorry Gigi, sorry).” Buffon, with a smile, added, “He (Ronaldo) apologized to me after the last match between Madrid and Juventus.”
Ronaldo’s career is a testament to the ketchup theory—when the goals come, they come in abundance, leaving an indelible mark on the world of football.
