Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic recently met at a tennis club in Lisbon, uniting two of the most dominant athletes of their generation. Ronaldo, still active at 40 with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, and Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, took time to exchange gifts and share mutual admiration during the encounter.
Icons of football and tennis
Ronaldo has long declared himself the greatest footballer of all time, often placing himself above Lionel Messi in the sport’s eternal debate. His longevity and consistency at the highest level have earned him global acclaim.
Djokovic mirrors that dominance in tennis. At 38, he continues to compete at the top of the game, with no signs of slowing down. His pursuit of excellence has drawn comparisons to other elite athletes, including Ronaldo.
“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations,” Djokovic said at the Joy Forum in Riyadh. “I really want to see how far I can go. If you see across all the global sports, LeBron James, he’s still going strong, he’s 40, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady played till he was 40-something years old. I mean, it’s unbelievable. They’re inspiring me as well.”
A symbolic exchange of gifts
During their meeting, Ronaldo presented Djokovic with a signed Al-Nassr jersey featuring his iconic No.7. In return, Djokovic gifted Ronaldo a red Lacoste shirt and a signed tennis racket, inscribed with the word “Siuuu,” the signature exclamation Ronaldo uses in his goal celebrations.
The moment captured the mutual respect between two athletes who have redefined the standards of their sports. Their conversation likely touched on training, discipline, and the mental edge required to stay at the top for decades.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is also like that,” Djokovic said on Nick Kyrgios’ podcast. “Just willing on a daily basis. To take your body, your mind, your character, your emotions, to a different level. To be a better version every single day. And to crush the borders and limits that everyone imposes on you.”
A fan and a peer
Djokovic has long admired Ronaldo, even mimicking his famous goal celebration on court. Back in 2018, after spotting Ronaldo in the crowd at the ATP Finals, he said: “It’s great to have a big football star, a sports star like him, court-side watching tennis… He’s a fan of tennis. It’s really, really nice as he’s one of the biggest sports stars in the last decade. It’s great for our sport to have him there.”
Their meeting in Lisbon was more than a photo opportunity—it was a moment of mutual recognition between two athletes who have shaped the modern era of sport through discipline, ambition, and an unrelenting drive to improve.
Novak Djokovic in 2025
Ranked no.5, Djokovic played his last match on the 11th of October when he was overcome by world no.39 Valentin Vacherot 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in Shanghai (draw).
Until now, during this year Novak has achieved an overall 35-11 record. Novak clinched 1 title in Geneva. Djokovic was the finalist in Miami.
He is also scheduled to play in Athens (Hellenic Championship) on the 2nd of November.