Cristiano never lets you down
Let me tell you a story. In 2006, Fabio Cannavaro won the World Cup with Italy and was awarded the Ballon d'Or in the wake of the success. Real Madrid signed him that summer...and that year he was unrecognisable on the pitch.
"Prizes, trips, the World Cup... It all drives you crazy, your eye gets taken off the ball," he admitted. Fabio was a footballer who liked to keep himself in tip-top nick, who lived for the game. He'd have rather been training at Valdebebas than on the road and collecting gongs.
We always expect best from CR7 - and he does too
And I'm telling you this because Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as being an unbelievable football player, is a human being. Like Cannavaro. Yet whatever happens, whether he wins or loses, whether he gets injured or has to pick up umpteen awards, we always demand 10 out of 10 from him.
We take it as a given. He does too. And nothing does distract him; he takes it all in his stride. He's the first to get angry if he doesn't score goals or if Real don't win. He never accepts a loss of focus or anything below his usual sky-high standards.
Yes, he hasn't begun the campaign so strongly, but it shouldn't be forgotten that he started pre-season training on 10 August and came back from the summer break still nursing a knee injury. Patience.
Against Borussia, the real Ronnie was back
In Dortmund, the Cristiano Ronaldo machine looked to be getting itself back into excellent working order - and it's still early days in the season. He never lets you down, and this term will be no exception. Neither the Ballon d'Or (he'll win it), nor Portugal's triumph at the Euros, nor anything can distract him...