Within modern western mainstream media, “Masculinity” tends to have a negative connotation. So much so that we have even derived terms such as “Toxic Masculinity”, coined as being “toxic when men feel they need to conform to rigid gender norms” by SHRM. On the surface, this definition seems rather acceptable to explain such a pejorative term. However, the way that society uses it is to put down anything that men do. Being competitive, dominating and assertive is now seen as being a taboo. Certain groups of people have softened up so much that they have forgotten and are simply choosing to ignore the influence of a male role model in the life of a human being. Cristiano Ronaldo (also known as CR7) is one of the greatest athletes of all time, a 4-time Ballon d’Or winner and with a sense of ethics that is not comparable to other athletes at his level. Most importantly, he is a role model to a large number of young football fans all around the globe.

Known for his masculine elegance and his impressive physique, Cristiano Ronaldo is a global brand, regardless of whether you are a football fan or not, you are bound to know the name. However, his ascension to greatness was not as straightforward as it seems.

Cristiano has been through thick and thin to become the man he currently is today, from living in relative poverty from a very young age to his father passing away in 2005. The sheer mental resilience that CR7 possesses is what has led him to the very top.

Unfortunately, in our current day and age, it seems more of a virtue to victimize yourself rather than fully understanding and accepting who you are. Cristiano Ronaldo is the living proof that it requires courage, willpower and a constant will to learn to get out of an unfavourable situation. A man is usually judged by his ability to act in challenging situations, whether he is able to remain levelheaded and propel himself forward or not.

UNDERSTAND EMOTIONS

The recurring myth about masculinity is that you have to repress your emotions in order to be a man. In my humble opinion, this could not be further from the truth. In order to be composed and find your meaning, you have to be able to understand your emotions. If this is not done, chaos ensues and it creates insecurities, leading up to unhealthy behaviour.

Linking this back to Cristiano, his success proves that he has been able to fully understand his own emotions, an example to demonstrate this is him crying after receiving his second Ballon d’Or. The act of crying illustrates that Cristiano is comfortable with placing himself in vulnerable situations. CR7 is the depiction of men not having to behave in stereotypical “macho” manner to show that they are manly.

Not only does this show that Cristiano is comfortable in his own skin, but it also demonstrates that he is aware of his humble beginnings and will not forget it, however much success he ends up having. A man is capable of understanding what has led him to the top and acknowledge that these factors or people should be prioritized.

Cristiano’s gratitude towards his family further emphasizes the point that he is a positive male role model. He places a lot of importance on raising his children as well as his current partner, Georgina Rodriguez. When Cristiano was given the choice between his mother and Irina Shayk (his ex-partner), he chose his mother, demonstrating yet again that he is a man of values and acknowledges the sacrifices that his mother had done when he was younger.

The lessons to be taken from this piece is that whether we like it or not, having a positive role model is crucial in order to become the best version of ourselves, and this article has proven why Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive male role model. The last lesson to be learned is that masculinity should not be villainized but should rather be celebrated.