Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself the best football player in history, stating that no one has ever been more complete than him.
In an interview with La Sexta, Ronaldo acknowledged that fans may prefer Lionel Messi, Pele, or Diego Maradona but maintained that his skills and achievements set him apart.
Ronaldo stated in the now-viral interview, “If I finish with 920 or 925 goals, it doesn’t matter. I am the best player in history. Full stop. If I reach 1,000 goals, great. If not, that’s fine too. Numbers don’t lie. I am the most complete player ever. To say Cristiano isn’t complete is a lie. You may prefer Pele, Messi, or Maradona, and I respect that. But I believe I am the best.”
Asked why he sees himself as superior to his rivals, he said: “I’m fast, I’m strong, I score with my head, my left foot, my right foot. No one has ever been more complete than me.”
Ronaldo, 39, also revealed that he could have joined Messi at Barcelona earlier in his career.
“Before Manchester United, Barcelona wanted me. I was at Sporting Lisbon, and they tried to sign me. But then United came in, and that’s where I went.”
The 39-year-old highlighted his versatility as a footballer, citing his speed, strength, and ability to score with both feet and his head as proof of his superiority.
Ronaldo also revealed that Barcelona attempted to sign him before he joined Manchester United from Sporting CP, but he ultimately chose the English club.
The Portuguese star has won five Ballon d’Or awards and numerous league titles, including the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. He also led Portugal to victory in Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.
The FIFA World Cup remains the only major title missing from his illustrious career.
