Cristiano Ronaldo Declares Himself Soccer's Greatest, Dismisses Goal Count Obsession
The Portuguese star stated his legacy is secure regardless of reaching 1,000 career goals, likening his rivalry with Lionel Messi to a famous Formula 1 battle.
Cristiano Ronaldo has asserted his claim as the greatest footballer in history, asserting that his legacy is firmly established irrespective of whether he achieves his target of 1,000 career goals. The 41-year-old forward, who recently left Portugal duty following a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus and received a suspension from the Portuguese FA, made these declarations in a recent interview with CNN Portugal.
Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr and scored his 980th career goal in their recent 3-0 victory, expressed his dissatisfaction with the public's focus on his goal tally rather than his overall achievements. "People don't appreciate what I'm doing right now, my goals. They're more concerned with how many goals I need to get to 1,000. I don't like it at all," he stated.
While acknowledging the pursuit of 1,000 goals as a significant milestone, Ronaldo emphasized that his status as the greatest player of all time is not contingent upon it. "Whether I score 920 goals, 925, 930... I'm the greatest of all time. Period. If I reach a thousand, it will be fantastic, but I'm not going to sit here and say I have to reach them," he added.
The debate over the greatest of all time (GOAT) often includes figures like Lionel Messi, Pelé, and Diego Maradona. Ronaldo, while respecting differing opinions, was unequivocal about his own completeness as a player. "If someone prefers Messi, Pelé, or Maradona, that's a matter of personal taste," Ronaldo said. "I respect that. But to say Cristiano Ronaldo isn't a complete player is a lie. I am the most complete player."
He drew a parallel between his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi and the historic dynamic between Formula 1 legends Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, suggesting mutual motivation. "One has always motivated the other, just like Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in Formula 1," Ronaldo commented.
This declaration comes amidst a turbulent period in his international career, marked by his controversial exit from Portugal's squad. Ronaldo released a lengthy statement accusing manager Jorge Jesus of broken promises after being benched during a match against Norway. Reflecting on his immediate future, Ronaldo expressed uncertainty: "I don't know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe I'll wake up one day without motivation and not want to play anymore. I really don't know what could happen."