“I have to thank my old friend Albert Fantrau for my success. We played together for the same team in the U-18 championship. When a scout came to see us he said that “Whoever scores more goals will come into our academy.”
“We won that match 3-0. I scored the first goal then Albert scored the second with a great header. But the third goal was impressive for all of us. Albert was one-on-one against the goalkeeper, he rounded the goalkeeper and I was running in front of him. All he had to do was to score that goal but he passed it to me and I scored the third goal, so I got that spot and went to the academy.
After the match I went to him and asked him why? Albert said that “Because you are better than me.”
Journalists then went to Albert’s house and asked him if it was a true story. He said “yes”.
He also said that his career as a footballer ended after the match and now is unemployed.
“But how did you build this house so great, you have a car? You seem like a rich man. You also able keep your family. From where did this come from? ‘ Asked the journalist.
Albert more proudly replied: “It is from Cristiano Ronaldo!”
Lessons:
1. No matter how talented we might be we can’t succeed alone, we all need a helping hand to the top. “If we have seen further”, Isaac Newton implied, “it’s because we’re standing on the shoulders of others”. Let us remember to appreciate those friends whose hands and shoulders have helped us to be who we are today.
2. Understand your limitations and be humble enough to recognize, appreciate and give way to better talents. Always be willing to offer a helping hand even when it means you have to delay or miss out on the opportunity.
3. Kindness is the best investment there is, it guarantees handsome returns no matter what. In fact, the longer the payback takes the greater the dividend. Don’t stop being good, the creed says, you shall reap in due season.
Dreamlife Mission 