Anthony Elanga has credited Cristiano Ronaldo with shaping the way he thinks about training, recovery and professionalism, saying the lessons he picked up at Manchester United still stay with him. The Sweden forward also said it is an honour to be on the same World Cup stage as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
That is why Elanga is being searched now: he has just spoken about the three things that always drive football conversation, what he learned from Ronaldo, what Messi means to him, and how he sees his own place in the game while Sweden wait for their next match. Ronaldo made the latest reminder of his edge on Tuesday, scoring twice in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, while Messi turned 39 on Wednesday.
Elanga did not dress up the experience. He said he learned a lot from Ronaldo on and off the pitch during their time together at Manchester United, pointing first to what the Portugal captain does after training and then to how he handles recovery. He added that it was a great honour to have played with him, and said he wants to keep watching and learning rather than trying to choose between Ronaldo and Messi.
That admiration has not made him impatient. Elanga said he is only 24 and may still be playing when he is 33 or even 41, a reminder that he sees his own career as one that is still unfolding. He has already shown what he can do, including a superb goal against Netherlands, but he is also clear that the next step is patience. He said he is happy to wait for his starting opportunities and trust Graham Potter, because millions would like to be in his position at a World Cup and Sweden are carrying 26 players who all want to play.
There is a quiet edge to that patience. Elanga said daily Bible reading gives him peace and helps him when he is not allowed to play, a routine he leans on while waiting for his chance. He also said comments from Zlatan Ibrahimovic meant a lot to him and that he values the chance to play with Ibrahimovic in the national team, but the central line remains the same: learn from the greats, keep faith, and be ready when the moment comes.
Sweden now turn to a crucial World Cup fixture against Japan in the early hours of Friday morning, with Elanga's role still the detail that matters most. Ronaldo and Portugal, meanwhile, are preparing to face Colombia as they try to secure top spot in Group K and move on, which leaves Elanga in the same tournament orbit as the two men he has spent so much time admiring.
