Seven years apart — from training with Ronaldo to construction site

Cendrim Kameraj, once a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, has recently gone viral after being photographed at a construction site.

The 26-year-old full-back, who trained alongside Ronaldo and Gianluigi Buffon seven years ago, was considered a promising youth international. However, his professional career was derailed by three cruciate ligament injuries, forcing him to look for a new path off the pitch.

Kameraj now works for a recruitment agency specializing in construction firms, often visiting job sites as part of his role. A recent photo from one of these visits quickly caught the attention of football fans worldwide.

He said: “For a video project, I had to spend a day on the construction site. That’s when I took this selfie."

Although he’s stepped away from professional football, Kameraj hasn’t left the sport entirely. He has begun coaching a youth club, sharing his experience and knowledge with the next generation. He added: “I’m grateful for everything I’ve been able to experience in my career. It would be a shame to throw away all this knowledge and experience. I was never able to play freely; there was always a certain amount of fear. I hated football so much. I didn’t want to know anything about it anymore and didn’t even watch games on TV."

During his time at Juventus, Kameraj shared a now-famous photo with Ronaldo, which has since been viewed millions of times. He also praised the Manchester United legend’s character, insisting that Ronaldo is “down to earth” despite his fame.

He said: “With Cristiano, you could see why he made it so far. His discipline and hard work set him apart from everyone else."