As Cristiano Ronaldo approaches his 40th birthday, the Portuguese superstar continues to make headlines—not just for his performances on the pitch, but also for his confidence off it. In a recent 50-minute interview with the Spanish show El Chiringuito de Jugones, Ronaldo made one of his most outspoken claims yet: he declared himself the greatest football player in history.
Ronaldo’s illustrious career is a testament to his extraordinary talent and determination. With nearly 1,000 goals, five Champions League titles, seven league trophies, five Ballon d’Or awards, and a Euro 2016 championship to his name, his accomplishments are unparalleled. In the interview, Ronaldo was emphatic: “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.”
He went on to explain why he sees himself as superior to other football legends: “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 also took the opportunity to criticize some of the coaches he has worked with, though he refrained from naming specific individuals. “I had some really bad coaches. Some of them don’t have a clue about football at all,” he remarked.
Addressing his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo acknowledged their healthy competition but couldn’t resist taking a dig at Messi’s move to Major League Soccer (MLS). “The Saudi Pro League is stronger than MLS,” he asserted. Interestingly, Ronaldo revealed that he could have joined Messi at Barcelona earlier in his career, but opted for Manchester United instead. “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,” he shared.
Despite his move to Al Nassr and his continued pursuit of records, Ronaldo expressed his fondness for Real Madrid: “I will always have Madrid in my heart. It was where I was happiest. But I loved playing at Camp Nou. They booed me, insulted me, and I loved it.”
At 39, Ronaldo remains a key player for Al Nassr and shows no signs of slowing down. With his confidence as strong as ever, he is determined to continue proving himself as the greatest of all time.
