Ricardo Regufe: Cristiano Ronaldo's man of confidence

Ricardo Regufe is Cristiano Ronaldo's man of confidence, usually around to give him morale support and he seems to be around more often than ever when he has a big decision to make.

He is not just a friend with an opinion but he offers advice that Ronaldo respects and will make his choice after hearing from him.

At the moment he is with Ronaldo in Russia, a member of Portugal's technical staff even though he is not really a coach but an important figure for the country's star man. To such an extent is his importance, that Ronaldo will speak to him more than his agent Jorge Mendes.

Ronaldo's future at Real Madrid, where he has a contract until 2021, will be down to the player but the board know, as do FIFA and UEFA over when they want the player for an event, that Regufe is an important figure who the player is delegating more work towards.

With a role also with Nike Portugal, Regufe has come out on occasions to back the player when he is under pressure. On Sunday he put on social media a message relating to Ronaldo and Messi, and it is clear that while there is respect between the two players, they are both competing to be the best.