“Everyone wants to be like the best in the world“ - When Arsenal star named Cristiano Ronaldo as his football ‘idol’

Cristiano Ronaldo has inspired millions of young football fans across the world, and several would have turned out to become professionals themselves. One of them is current Arsenal attacker Raheem Sterling, who has often confessed his admiration for the Portuguese maestro.

Sterling, who has played for Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in the past, is currently on loan at Arsenal from the Blues. When he first came into the limelight in 2014 with Liverpool, the then-19-year-old Sterling said that he wanted to become the best in the world, and there were few better people to look up to than Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I really look up to Cristiano Ronaldo, he is someone that has always been an idol to me...but I’m not going to say any more other than the players I look up to are the best in the world (Cristiano Ronaldo), and everyone wants to be like the best in the world,” Sterling had said back then (via Mirror).

“I try not to put pressure on myself, but I’m looking to improve my goals to game ratio and try to chip in more for the team. If I am not scoring I need to be assisting and making goals which is a massive part of my game which I need to improve on really. That is my main aim this season to get that goals-per-game ratio up," he had added.

How have Arsenal and Raheem Sterling fared so far this term

Arsenal have started the new Premier League campaign well, and are third in the Premier League table with 17 points after eight games. Although they lost 0-2 to AFC Bournemouth over the weekend, they have not ceded much ground to Liverpool and Manchester City, who are first and second, respectively.

Sterling has played in four matches for the Gunners this season but has not been able to contribute with either goals or assists. His great hero Cristiano Ronaldo has moved on to play for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, leaving European football behind.