 "After sharing a fierce rivalry while representing two of the biggest football clubs in Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi currently represent Al Nassr and Inter Miami respectively. Reuters")
Cristiano Ronaldo can easily lay claim to being one of the greatest footballers to have ever played the ‘Beautiful Game’, and certainly is the best player to have emerged from Portugal. But when the iconic forward declared himself as football’s GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) ahead of legends such as Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, it certainly stirred quite the debate among fans and experts alike.
Speaking to Spanish broadcaster La Sexta, ‘CR7’ declared himself as the “most complete footballer” of all time, someone who can shoot with both feet and is blessed with blistering pace, incredible strength and a solid jump.
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Among those reacting to Ronaldo’s statement was Javier Mascherano, who shared the Argentina and FC Barcelona dressing room with Messi and currently coaches Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) where the latter is the face of the club.
“These are opinions. I obviously have a lot of respect for Cristiano, and I don’t need to analyze his viewpoint. That’s what he believes, and that’s fine. I have my own opinion, which differs from his. That’s all,” former Barca defender Mascherano said in response to the Al Nassr star’s bold opinion of himself.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who also the ‘FIFA World Player of the Year’ in 2008, had celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday. After starting his senior club career with Sporting CP in 2002, it was his move to Manchester United a year later that put him on the football map with the talented athlete transforming into a world-class forward under legendary manager Alex Ferguson.
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A six-year spell with United was followed by a nine-year stint with Spanish giants Real Madrid that would cement his place among the sport’s all-time greats, and become the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer It was during his time with the reining European and Spanish champions that Ronaldo developed an fierce rivalry with Messi, one that would develop into one of the greatest rivalries across all sport, and not just football.
After parting ways with Madrid, Ronaldo would represent 36-time Italian champions Juventus for three season and would briefly return to United for a season in 2021 before a blockbuster move to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr – where he is paid €200 million every year, the highest football salary ever.