CRISTIANO RONALDO and Fabio Paim ate leftover McDonald’s burgers collectively each night time.
They even jetted off on vacation collectively simply weeks earlier than Ronaldo lit up Euro 2004.
Cristiano Ronaldo used to eat the leftover McDonald’s burgers that had been being thrown out
Fabio Paim was mates with Ronaldo within the Sporting academyCredit score: Fabio Paim
Now the pair have misplaced contact after their careers took completely different pathsCredit score: SunSport
However after their soccer careers went in utterly reverse instructions, Paim is just not even positive his previous buddy remembers he exists.
And the forgotten footballer can be too scared to step again on to the pitch together with his former Sporting academy team-mate – regardless of being higher than him as a teen.
Paim is three years youthful than Ronaldo so they didn’t play collectively frequently as youngsters however had been good mates away from the pitch.
They had been united by their soccer capacity and love of quick meals, a far cry from elite athlete Ronaldo’s super-healthy dietary weight-reduction plan he has at present.
Paim instructed SunSport: “After we used to play in Sporting and lived within the academy, we lived within the stadium.
“At night time we used to go McDonald’s to select up the burgers that nobody wished anymore so that they weren’t good to promote.
“We had been there each night time for the burgers.
“Sure, Sporting knew. It’s not like these days. We had been allowed to exit.”
Paim added: “We had been mates. I can’t say finest mates however we had been mates.
“I had holidays with him. One was in Brazil, it was my first time in Brazil, earlier than Euro 2004.
“That was Cristiano’s first European Championships within the senior Portugal crew and we went on vacation earlier than it.
“I skilled with the nationwide crew however was too younger to play. If I used to be older, I might have been there.”
The youngsters first met when “particular” Paim signed for the Sporting academy aged eight and performed a match in Madeira, the Portuguese island the place Ronaldo was born.
At the moment, Paim couldn’t have predicted simply how good an 11-year-old Ronaldo would change into however he did present a number of the traits which have underlined his unbelievable success.
Paim added: “The primary time I met Cristiano I used to be eight years previous, I used to be new at Sporting and we went to a match in Madeira.
“We had good occasions collectively, actually good occasions. Soccer was not so severe at the moment for us.
“We might get pleasure from being youngsters.
“However I at all times keep in mind Ronaldo as a tough employee, actually dedicated and somebody who wished to be one of the best.
“He has at all times been like that, upset when he misplaced. That effort has taken him to the place he’s now. Even at present, he doesn’t have to play however desires to be one of the best.
“He’s gained all the pieces that he might, there may be nothing left. However it’s a results of that effort once we had been youngsters.
“Not even he knew he can be the place he’s now. I believed he was going to be somebody in soccer, participant however on the extent that he achieved? At the moment, no.”
Ronaldo left Sporting to hitch Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2003 and memorably declared: “In case you assume I’m good, wait till you see Fabio Paim.”
Paim stays the one participant Ronaldo has brazenly confessed is best than him.
However whereas Ronaldo went on to change into one of many biggest footballers ever, successful 5 Champions Leagues and the Ballon d’Or 5 occasions, Paim’s profession fizzled out as the celebrity and cash took over, chasing a way of life of girls, vehicles and partying together with his mega wages at such a younger age.
Ronaldo would get upset when he misplaced at the same time as a teen within the Sporting academyCredit score: Pa:press Affiliation
He impressed Sir Alex Ferguson together with his performances for SportingCredit score: AP:Related Press
Ronaldo famously referenced Paim’s high quality when he joined Manchester United in 2003Credit score: Getty
Paim and Ronaldo went to Brazil simply weeks earlier than the latter shone at Euro 2004Credit score: Corbis – Getty
The previous winger, who was on £10,000 per week on mortgage in Chelsea’s reserves aged 20, nonetheless holds regrets concerning the errors he made that in the end noticed him squander his outrageous pure expertise – particularly as a result of he genuinely believes he was not solely higher than Ronaldo however would have been one of the best on the earth.
As an alternative, he insists Ronaldo is the best ever, higher than rival Lionel Messi, though not everybody in Portugal agrees.
Paim took SunSport to his barbers, the place the Messi-mad proprietor has banned speak of the previous Actual Madrid man.
Requested Ronaldo or Messi, Paim mentioned: “I can’t say the reality as a result of the boss doesn’t permit anybody to pronounce Cristiano’s identify.
“In his head, Messi will at all times be one of the best. I can’t say Ronaldo in any other case I can’t be right here subsequent week!”
However finally Paim relents: “Cristiano. That’s my selection.
“In my head, I actually assume he’s one of the best for all the pieces he conquered and all the pieces he has accomplished.
“In Portugal, we’ll by no means see one other one like him. By no means.
“Cristiano, for all his effort and onerous work, went to a degree he deserves.
“However after I was enjoying, if I had the identical effort and dedication, I might be higher than him.
I don’t even know if Cristiano remembers I exist
Fabio Paim
“I had completely different traits. By way of method, I used to be higher. I used to be a small Ronaldinho. However as we will see, it’s not the method that leads us to wherever.
“I remorse a number of the selections I’ve made however understanding myself as I do, it was not possible to be at Cristiano’s degree.
“However sure at the moment I used to be higher than Cristiano. He ought to give me one among his Ballons d’Or!”
Paim has misplaced contact with Ronaldo – though paradoxically he watched his former team-mate coaching with the Portugal nationwide crew by means of the window of his jail when he was arrested in 2019 and put in a cell for a 12 months on suspicion of drug trafficking offences.
Now together with his identify cleared after the case collapsed, Paim helps youngsters to keep away from making the identical errors he made.
Nonetheless, he has not kicked a soccer for 3 years since a brief stint at Polish third-tier facet LZS Starowice in 2020-21.
And after two earlier knee surgical procedures, it might take a really particular cellphone name for him to lace up his boots once more.
Paim added: “No, to be sincere, I don’t need to play with Cristiano once more.
“I’m afraid to enter the sector as a result of I do know I’m going to be injured. If he asks me, I might go.
“I don’t even know if he remembers I exist.
“It’s been a very long time since I final spoke to him.
“We now have completely different lives. He’s in his life, I’ve mine however I’m positive that if I meet him someplace, we’ll communicate just like the previous occasions.”
Paim was scouted and signed for Sporting when he was eightCredit score: Fabio Paim
The previous winger was destined for greatness with very good pure abilityCredit score: Fabio Paim
Paim in contrast himself to a small Ronaldinho however by no means made a senior look for Sporting or PortugalCredit score: Getty – Contributor
Paim sat down with SunSport overlooking Vilamoura MarinaCredit score: SunSport
The previous footballer will get his hair lower twice per weekCredit score: SunSport