From the humble streets of São Pedro, Madeira, to one of the most staggering careers ever seen - Cristiano Ronaldo is the ultimate inspiration for every footballer in Portugal. Going from amateur side Andorinha, via Nacional, and finally to Sporting Lisbon by the age of 12, the forward's path to unprecedented glory wasn't necessarily straightforward. What has set him apart, however, is his incredible work ethic and hunger to succeed. It's a message he's now trying to pass on to a new generation of his compatriots.The 34-year-old, who has now won 29 trophies, five Ballon d'Ors, and recently surpassed 700 goals for club and country, has sent an inspiring letter to Portugal's U17 Women after they reached the elite round of Euro 2020.

Accompanying the letter were a pair of each Mercurials for each member of the team. 

The U17 side have already shown they have an eye for goal, beating Israel 4-1 and Latvia 4-0 in their last two outings. 

No wonder Ronaldo is impressed. 

The letter reads: 

"Hi girls,

"I'm giving you these Mercurials in the hope they will spark your dream - whatever your dream may be.

"When I was a kid, I had one simple yet pretty crazy dream. Now I don't mean the kind of dreams you have when you sleep - this is the kind of dream that you want so much, that it keeps you awake at night.

"I wanted to become the best player in the world. I dedicated my life to my dream - in the gym, on the training pitch - doing whatever it demanded. 

"It's so important to have a dream; it's even more important to work hard for it. 

"I achieved my dream and I hope you can achieve yours. So now go for it; if I can, you can too. 

"Congratulations on making it to the Elite Round. 

"Stay focused and keep your eyes on the next win. Good luck, enjoy these boots."

Ronaldo so often gets a bad reputation as an egotist but credit where it's due, it's a class gesture. 

Just imagine receiving a letter like that from Ronaldo when you're still a teenager.