The Ego strikes back: Cristiano Ronaldo fires back at critics

Cristiano Ronaldo has boldly declared himself the most complete player in football history, dismissing comparisons with Lionel Messi and pointing to his goalscoring records as ultimate proof of his greatness.

Read Also: The Messi comparison: Walid Regragui exposes the bitter truth behind Ronaldo's exit

The greatest in history

The 41 year old forward recently sat down for an interview with CNN Portugal where he openly addressed the ongoing debate regarding the greatest player of all time.

Unlike his Argentine rival who traditionally avoids discussing the topic in the media, the Al Nassr star did not hesitate to place himself at the top of the sport's hierarchy.

"If someone prefers Messi, Pelé, or Diego Armando Maradona, that is ultimately personal taste and I respect it... But if someone claims I am not a complete player, that is a big lie. I am the most complete player in history" Ronaldo explained.

The five time Ballon d'Or winner emphasised that his unprecedented statistical achievements remove any subjectivity from the debate.

"I am the greatest in history. That is what the numbers say and they tell the whole story... I don't know anyone better than me" he added.

The 1000 goal Milestone

The interview arrives as Ronaldo approaches an unprecedented statistical milestone.

The veteran forward currently sits at 980 official career goals, leaving him just 20 successful strikes away from becoming the first player in professional football history to reach the 1000 goal mark.

In comparison, Messi currently holds 934 career goals.

Despite being so close to the historic figure, Ronaldo maintained that his legacy is already secure regardless of whether he reaches the milestone.

"I wouldn't regret it if I retired today on any level and I won't say I must reach 1000 goals, because history is already written" he stated.

These confident statements follow a turbulent period for the forward at the international level. Ronaldo recently left the Portugal national camp following a widely publicised dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus, sparking rumours regarding his potential retirement from international football.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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