Cristiano Ronaldo is like the Michael Jordan of football – everyone knows who he is, and
everyone knows what he❤️ does. After all, as of 2024, he was the most liked person on
Facebook with more than 116 million likes,❤️ and that number has since grown. However,
not everyone knows that Ronaldo is also a highly skilled poker player who❤️ has competed
on the highest level against some of the best professional poker stars in the
world.
There are plenty of❤️ sports stars who like to play poker, and many of them wind
up starring in televised tournaments to generate publicity❤️ and exposure for the events.
But Ronaldo’s involvement in high-stakes poker has been particularly remarkable, much
like his performance on❤️ the pitch. While he has stated that football will always be his
favorite sport, he’s also known that poker is❤️ his favorite game.
How Did Ronaldo Get So
Good at Poker?
Cristiano’s love for poker started at home with his friends, where❤️ he
used to play the game for hours to pass the time. Most people get to be great at one
❤️ sport or fun, but he’s got the best of both worlds. So how did he get so good, and why
❤️ is he so good at football and poker? After hours of intensive footballing, you would
think that he would be❤️ too exhausted to focus on an intense poker match. There may be a
correlation between the famous footballer’s skills on❤️ the pitch and at the poker table
– the rules of engagement.
If you start to analyze the similarities between the❤️ game of
football and poker, you’ll see that almost anyone good at football can also become a
decent poker player.❤️ However, not every poker player can quickly become a pro
footballer. So, in that sense, one could argue that Ronaldo❤️ has a mental advantage over
the typical poker player, primarily because he’s used to maintaining intensity and
focus through tougher❤️ tribulations than a poker match.
The Connection Between Football
and Poker
Football and poker have a reliable set of rules that high-level❤️ players are
expected to know and leverage. In football, simply knowing the rules can’t make up for
lack of athleticism,❤️ but in poker, the rules of engagement are all you need to climb
the ranks. Like most of us, Ronaldo❤️ probably started studying a poker glossary and
playing a few games with family and friends.
Ultimately, Ronaldo’s skill at the poker
❤️ table comes from his ability to persist where other players would give up. Football
requires a lot of stamina and❤️ commitment, especially professionally. Having that kind
of resolve and mental resilience at a poker table can be an asset for❤️ a football
player, which may explain why other pro footballers like Gerard Pique, Neymar, and Tony
Cascarino are decent poker❤️ players.
Taking Advantage of Time Off
Ronaldo has had a few
setbacks, allowing him to take some time away from football. During❤️ those spurts, he
started making appearances as a poker player. In 2024, he could not play for a while
due❤️ to sustaining a couple of injuries during the European Tournament. While these
stumbling blocks caused many fans to worry, Ronaldo❤️ bounced back nicely as a
footballer, and the time off gave him the chance to surpass his peers in
poker.
Injuries❤️ are never a good thing in football, but in the grand scheme of things,
it seems Ronaldo has fared relatively❤️ well athletically and had the extra advantage of
focusing on a second craft while healing. Still, some question just how❤️ good he might
have been at football without injuries, considering he still went down in history as
one of the❤️ greatest footballers ever.
He Is a Member of Team PokerStars
The fastest way
to answer just how good Ronaldo is would tell❤️ you that he’s a bonafide member of Team
PokerStars. You don’t just become a PokerStars member because you’re a celebrity❤️ – you
have to be at least able to play poker at a high-intermediate level. PokerStars players
are expected to❤️ perform at the highest level, and even if they don’t make the greatest
decisions beneath the surface, their poker faces❤️ are always spot on. Try some poker
sites on Fliptroniks.
Speaking of poker faces, Ronaldo’s unwavering seriousness at the
table is❤️ reminiscent of his fiery fury on the pitch. Even though the chaotic back and
forth of a football match, he❤️ maintains focus, so it seems like a one-on-one duel
should be a walk in the park for him.
He Has Beaten❤️ Aaron Paul in a PokerStars
Duel
Aaron Paul, the star of the hit television show Breaking Bad, is known for his
❤️ exceptional poker skills and has starred in several televised poker events. If you’ve
ever seen Aaron Paul play, that gives❤️ you an idea of how good Cristiano Ronaldo is at
poker. Most people expected Aaron to win against Ronaldo, but❤️ the Portuguese footballer
shocked the world with a severe performance of one of the most epic PokerStars duels.
There’s been❤️ talk about an upcoming rematch between the two, although no official date
has been set. Nonetheless, the match was one❤️ of the most memorable PokerStars events in
history.
Poker and Philanthropy
Another remarkable aspect of Ronaldo’s poker-playing
habit is that he donates❤️ winnings to charity. Of course, it would seem rather greedy if
he kept the funds for himself, considering how large❤️ his salary is. In his last
tournament against Aaron Paul, he donated all his winnings to charity. That doesn’t
speak❤️ to how good of a poker player he is, but if you think about the word “good,” it
means he’s❤️ a good poker player because he’s chipping in towards the greater good every
time he wins.
