Cristiano Ronaldo goes Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma at Honor 23 in Beijing, China in his first interview since joining Juventus, and talks about his humble beginnings growing up in Madeira, Nike making new sneakers for Juventus, and his son, Cristiano Jr., wanting to dress like his dad.
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00:00What's up everybody, it's Joe from Complex.
00:28We're in Beijing, China at Honor 23 with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo.
00:32Gonna do some sneaker shopping today, gonna see what he's feeling, what he's not, and
00:35then hopefully he's gonna buy some sneakers.
00:38Let's go.
00:48Cristiano, Air Max 97, recently released.
00:51Now there's a good story behind these.
00:53You had two pair of shoes growing up.
00:55One you went to school with, and one you played football in.
00:58And you beat them, and your mom would patch them together.
01:01How important was it for you to tell that story in this design?
01:04Well, I think it's a good story, especially for the young kids that they do it the same
01:10way, that they have possibilities to have money to buy shoes.
01:14So this is my history since the beginning, that we don't have great possibilities to
01:19have shoes, Nike shoes, and we did it in that way.
01:22So Nike gave me the opportunity to do it in these shoes, with the color, with the badges
01:27It's a good idea, and of course I'm so proud for these shoes.
01:33And it sold out quickly.
01:34Good.
01:35Yeah.
01:36Good news.
01:37Now, do you remember those humble beginnings in Madeira, and the two pair of shoes?
01:40What was it like growing up?
01:41Well, it was good, you know.
01:43Difficult moments, but I think the difference is when you grow up in the difficult moments,
01:51and when you grow you do, you know, the difference between to have a good life and normal life.
01:56And I knew that, so it's good.
01:59I'm not regretting nothing, and I appreciate everything that I've passed in my life.
02:06It was for a reason, so I'm so glad.
02:08Now I have the opportunity to have my line in the shoes, so I'm blessed, you know.
02:13So fast forward a little bit, the Mercurial boot.
02:16You signed to Nike in 2003, and since then you've been the face of the Mercurial boot.
02:21Now, do you save any pairs if you have an exceptional game?
02:25Yeah, I have a few ones, of course, because, you know, my history, my legacy, you have
02:31to keep it some memories.
02:34So of course I keep some boots in my house, in my museum, so I have a lot.
02:44Cristiano, we know you love white, and we know you love the Air Force One.
02:48What's it about this iconic design that you love?
02:51Well, especially they are very comfortable.
02:54When I started to use it when I was in England, white, comfortable.
02:59You can put it with tracksuit, you know, any clothes, so it's good that it fits with anything.
03:05You're wearing a new model, the XT.
03:08They're more of a fitness functional shoe than the Air Force Ones.
03:11What do you like about those?
03:12The comfort?
03:13And you designed a few.
03:14Exactly.
03:15Well, this is a special shoe.
03:16It's not because they made it for me, they have my name.
03:22But if you use it, I don't know if you had the opportunity to...
03:24I got one back there.
03:25Yeah, you should use it.
03:26You're going to feel that it's simple, it's beautiful, great color.
03:31You can use with anything, so it's perfect.
03:34I think Nike did a fantastic job.
03:36And I'm happy, of course.
03:38I wanted to ask about Cristiano Jr.
03:40You and him dress alike.
03:42Is he getting into sneakers?
03:44He love it too.
03:45He copy me a little bit, but it's good.
03:48You look at me as a model, so it's great.
03:52The taste is a little bit similar than me, so it's my son.
03:56I'm glad that he use it and he like it Nike too.
04:04Cristiano, like I said, we know you love white.
04:07We know that you have a denim line yourself, but what do you think of like a collaboration
04:10like Levi's and Jordan getting together on a shoe on the Jordan 4?
04:14I'm not surprised.
04:15They always made it fantastic sneakers, but I'm a little bit surprised, a little bit.
04:21The way they did, you know, I watch these ones and these ones, you see, great imagination.
04:27So I keep it too already for me.
04:31Someone I want to ask about, 2015 I'm at a New York Giants game.
04:35Odell Beckham Jr., 67-yard touchdown, and then he does your celebration.
04:40And then you guys hung out in March.
04:42What was that like?
04:43It's fantastic, you know, to be related with these fantastic stars.
04:47I like to play football, but I like to appreciate another sports.
04:50And to see stars speak about you, to do your celebrations, to use your sneakers or do something
04:58related with you.
04:59For me, it's a motivation, you know, and I like it and I appreciate it a lot.
05:07We have a lot of people on the show, but only one person debuted the HyperAdapt to the world.
05:13How was you?
05:14I remember, I was a little bit surprised when they arrived at home with these shoes.
05:17I said, wow, it's nice.
05:19But I didn't know that when you put the feet, they squeeze the feet, so unbelievable.
05:24Great imagination.
05:25You know, they have the battery here.
05:28What I'm going to say, Nike always surprised me with the great stuff.
05:33You're one of few lifetime Nike athletes.
05:36Do you still get excited when packages show up?
05:39To be honest, yes.
05:40I'm not going to lie to you.
05:43I like to wear new shoes.
05:45I have a lot.
05:46As I said before, I'm a huge fan of sneakers.
05:49But when I go to the kitchen and I see boxes, I say, it's coming.
05:54But now, it's coming sometimes stuff for my kids, because I have four kids, you know.
05:59For Cristiano, I have for my girlfriend, and sometimes it's not for me and I'm a little
06:03bit disappointed.
06:04No, I'm joking.
06:05I have a lot.
06:06So I'm happy.
06:07Now, you're very competitive, obviously.
06:09Are you competitive with getting sneakers first, even, you know, not even with the family,
06:13but outside?
06:14Do you like debuting new sneakers?
06:16I like it.
06:17I like it.
06:18But, you know, it's not my priority, you know, to be the first one.
06:22Gotcha.
06:23In football, yes, it's my priority.
06:24Absolutely.
06:25But with the sneakers, no.
06:26Of course, I like to be, I like to have the new style, new stuff.
06:30But Nike always, Cristiano needs to be first or second or third, so I'm happy with that.
06:36Makes sense.
06:37A very rare pair we have here, 2003 Air Max 95 Juventus.
06:43Obviously the transfer is big news.
06:44Are you looking forward to maybe footwear, boots, and sneakers in that colorway coming
06:49down the pike?
06:51Definitely yes.
06:52I didn't remember this, just to be honest, the color.
06:56But I had the opportunity, of course, I'm signing up for Juve, and I'm exciting and
07:01very happy and very proud.
07:03And I had the opportunity already to speak with Nike to do it, the new, okay, shoes with
07:10these colors.
07:11Black and white.
07:12Black and white.
07:13So I'm looking forward for that.
07:15You've seen with social media now, everyone is paying attention to what you're wearing
07:18more than ever.
07:19Kim Jones and Virgil are doing special makeups.
07:22You have a lot of off-whites, but you wore a Kim Jones mercurial boot.
07:26What do you think about now seeing this culture explode?
07:28That is good.
07:29I like to be the role model.
07:32And of course to be connected with the guys which is important in the market, I think
07:38it's great.
07:39Not just football, football, or NBA, or other sports, but to be related with the great names.
07:46So I think Nike did a fantastic job and good imaginations.
07:49I speak about the boots that I wear, was amazing.
07:53And I hope for the future Nike can keep doing the same job.
07:56Absolutely.
07:57Well, we talked about everything.
07:58Now's the easy part.
08:00We get to browse the shelves, see what sneakers you're going to take home.
08:01I have a few already, but I will choose a few more.
08:04Let's do it.
08:05So, hey.
08:06Hi.
08:07You're okay?
08:08Welcome to my store.
08:10Yeah, I like this one.
08:11Jordan 23.
08:12Yeah.
08:13Or this one.
08:14The full?
08:15Yeah.
08:16This one.
08:17Bingo.
08:19This one.
08:20This one.
08:21White.
08:22I think it's great.
08:23This one.
08:25And this one, too.
08:31Oh.
08:32Amazing.
08:34Perfect.
08:36We got total 23,498.
08:44Sorry.
08:49Thank you
08:52Thank you
09:04So an iconic episode of sneaker shopping cr7, thanks so much for taking the time make sure everyone checks them out this season
09:19You