THINK about silver screen hero Spider-Man and football striker (前锋) Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Do the two have anything in common?
Ruud leads two lives
THINK about silver screen hero Spider-Man and football striker (前锋) Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Do the two have anything in common?
While most of us would probably say no, Van Nistelrooy believes the answer is yes. "I have to live two lives if I want to survive," he said. "The person Ruud is totally different from Ruud van Nistelrooy the footballer."
On the pitch (球场), the 30-year-old has performed really well since he joined Spanish No 1 club Real Madrid in July 2006. He scored twice to help Real defeat Sevilla 3-2 on May 6. The win keeps the club just two points behind leader Barcelona in the league's title race. The Dutchman's two goals also take him to the top of the scorers' chart. "I am hungry for goals and I am hungry for success at this club," he said.
Having a great natural feel for the sport, he effectively capitalizes (利用) on any mistake within the penalty area (点球区). One tiny defensive error usually results in a goal in the net.
An independent star
While his scoring ability can always humiliate (使丢脸) the defenders and goalkeepers, his reportedly arrogant (傲慢的) attitude make his former teammates angry with him. When he was with England's Manchester United, he couldn't get along with some of his teammates, especially Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. They even came to blows (打架) during a training session. Van Nistelrooy criticized Ronaldo's tendency to keep the ball instead of passing and then the two fought.
But like Peter Parker, the young man behind Spider-Man's mask (面具), Van Nistelrooy leads a normal life when he is off the pitch. "I live a calm life at home," he said. "I read a bit and I like to cook with my wife." Unlike some of football stars who have made headlines for their luxurious (奢华的) mansions (宅邸) and colorful life at the night clubs, Van Nistelrooy cannot be found in the pages of gossip (八卦) magazines.
"If you start to find that kind of luxury as a normal thing, you don't belong in the real world," he said. "That kind of wealth makes me sick."
