Listen to the full interview above via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast
Author Luca Caioli believes the perception of Cristiano Ronaldo has changed thanks to his tears as he accepted the 2014 Ballon D'Or in January.
Tonight on the Football Show, we spoke to Caioli about the real Ronaldo behind the headlines.
"I think it's quite interesting that particularly after his Ballon D'Or when he is crying, it changed our perception of Ronaldo from a superstar and hero to human," said Caioli who sees him as a "good boy and simple guy with a bad image".
Caioli described Ronaldo's childhood with an "alcoholic" father - with whom he had a good relationship - and a brother with drug problems and the sense of separation and isolation after leaving the island of Madeira to join Sporting Lisbon's academy on the mainland as a boy.
Always talented and prodigiously hard-working, one forgets that he was often criticized by pundits and fans shortly after he joined Manchester United aged 18.
Yet even in his native land, where he is now considered a national hero, Ronaldo struggled to find acceptance.
"In Portugal, it was quite hard to accept his style because also with the national team of Portugal, he was not accepted. Portuguese expect from him, the same level he had at Manchester United and Real Madrid. But at European Championships and World Cups, he hasn't had the same level. He arrived at the same level just two years ago in the last European Championship when he changed completely and reached the semi-final."
And now with the World Cup ahead, Caioli says Ronaldo wants to "demonstrate that he is the best".
