Despite being 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most prominent figures in world soccer. The Portugal forward has spent more than two decades at the top of the sport, and to one Real Madrid player, he shares traits with NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Arda Guler spoke with The Player’s Tribune and expressed his admiration for CR7, whom he faced in a match between Portugal and Turkey during Euro 2024. “Before our match against Portugal, I was a little nervous. I was hoping Ronaldo would talk to me after the game, because I respect him a lot,” the 20-year-old midfielder said.
“On match day, Marca (a Spanish newspaper) ran this headline: ‘ARDA GULER CHALLENGES CRISTIANO,’” the young player recalled. He immediately regretted it: “Have you seen The Last Dance? Cristiano is like Michael Jordan. A headline like that motivates him to the max.”
As expected, things didn’t go well for Turkey. “Portugal won 3–0, and after the match, Cristiano didn’t talk to anyone,” the Turkish midfielder said. Still, for him, the experience was unforgettable. “Honestly, it was an honor to share the field with Cristiano.”
Arda Guler of Turkey
Guler says he also felt like Michael Jordan
In the same interview, Guler shared a moment that came after the Portugal match, as Turkey prepared to face Austria in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024. “A few days later, I understood how he (Ronaldo) felt, because on the bus on the way to the stadium, I saw a video of a group of Austrian fans. They were saying: ‘Who the hell is Arda Guler?’”
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The young midfielder was stunned. “I was shocked. Why would someone say that about me?” he said. “When I saw the Austria video, I went into Michael Jordan mode. They kept chanting about me during the match. They were throwing beer cups at me.”
Those circumstances fired Guler up—and he responded on the field, helping Turkey to a 2–1 victory. “When I assisted the second goal, I turned to the Austrian fans. Thank you. I guess I took it personally,” Arda explained.
Who is Arda Guler?
Arda Guler began his professional career at Fenerbahce at just 16 years old, quickly earning attention for his exceptional ball control and left-footed precision. That early promise helped him secure a regular role at the club and reach the Turkish national team by age 17.
His performances caught the eye of Europe’s elite, including both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Ultimately, Los Blancos signed him in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth $22.5 million, with an additional $10 million tied to performance-related bonuses.
Since arriving in Spain, Guler has struggled with injuries that delayed his integration into the team, but he has seen more playing time this season. With Real Madrid, the midfielder has played 51 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 7 assists.
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