The England teenager has been in superb form since the start of 2014 for club and country and is looking to emulate the Ballon d’Or winner in the coming years
Raheem Sterling has admitted he looks up to Cristiano Ronaldo and is aiming to reach a similar level as the world’s elite players.
The 19-year-old has impressed since the beginning of 2014 after breaking into the Liverpool starting XI on a regular basis, and is now seen as a key figure for both club and country.
He has already scored twice for Brendan Rodgers’ side in their opening three Premier League fixtures and is hoping he can improve his goalscoring record and become one of the modern greats.
“I try not to put pressure on myself, but I’m looking to improve my goals to game ratio and try to chip in more for the team,” he told the Daily Mirror.
“If I am not scoring I need to be assisting and making goals which is a massive part of my game which I need to improve on really. That is my main aim this season to get that goals-per-game ratio up.
“I really look up to Cristiano Ronaldo, he is someone that has always been an idol to me, but I’m not going to say any more other than the players I look up to are the best in the world, and everyone wants to be like the best in the world.”
Sterling will be able to pit himself against his hero when the Reds take on Real Madrid during the Champions League group stage with the two European giants drawn alongside FC Basel and Ludogorets in Group B.
Playing in club football’s elite competition is just the next step in Sterling’s development after he was part of Liverpool’s title bid in 2013-14 before representing England at the World Cup.
And the winger is keen to keep improving after a whirlwind year which has seen him become one of the Premier League’s biggest stars.
“It has definitely been a remarkable 12 months for me, it has been a quick turnaround but that is football for you. It changes within seconds really.
“So I am focusing this season on going again and going onto the next level which I know i can reach. I’m determined it is only a matter of time before I get there.”
