To be fair, Ronaldo is known for exceptional work ethic.
If the definition of success is wealth or notoriety, there are certainly people who achieve it without those traits.
And sometimes no matter how hard you work, you're one of those people under the rungs.
However, just being "a hard worker" in itself is considered a virtue by many people.
I hesitate to call it the Protestant Work Ethic or the Puritan Work Ethic, as it's far from limited to Protestants or Puritans, but that's really what it is. The harder you work, the more virtuous you are considered to be, and working less is considered sinful or lazy (in other words, unvirtuous and blame-worthy).
Have you given thought to whether these are the absolute baseline...or actually the consequences of practices more fundamental?
Ok, you've heard of Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet, have you heard of Dani?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dani_(footballer,_born_1976)
Like Ronaldo he was launched int Sporting Clube de Portugal's first team when he played for the club's U17 team. Unlike Ronaldo, Dani didn't had a heart condition. Unlike Ronaldo, Dani had more appearances in his first year in the first team, and was quickly picked by WestHam and Ajax.
Unlike Ronaldo, Dani had a notoriously poor work ethics. Unlike Ronaldo, Dani's impressive start was squandered and he went nowhere, he achieved nothing and has since been forgotten.
Work ethics is the deciding factor. You may have won the genetic lottery and be a bonafide ubermensch but if your work ethics suck then you'll quickly be surpassed by those lesser talented but more hard working than you.