In his personal thoughts, there isn’t any doubt about it.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best scorer in soccer historical past. So says the Portuguese celebrity on the cusp of his fortieth birthday.
Ronaldo, who turns 40 on Wednesday, made the proclamation in a current interview with Spanish tv channel La Sexta.
“I’m the best scorer in historical past,” Ronaldo instructed La Sexta, . “Though I’m not left-footed, I’m within the prime 10 in historical past for objectives scored with the left foot. These are numbers, I’m essentially the most full participant who has ever existed.
“I play effectively with my head, I take good free kicks, I’m quick, I’m sturdy, I bounce… I’ve by no means seen anybody higher than me.”
So does he have a case? Some vital numbers are in his favor. , Ronaldo’s 923 whole profession objectives in 1,254 video games are essentially the most within the sport’s historical past. That features His 135 objectives in 217 profession worldwide video games which are additionally essentially the most in soccer historical past.
Ronaldo is most in contrast along with his up to date rival Lionel Messi, who sits second behind Ronaldo with 850 objectives in 1,081 profession video games — 73 fewer objectives in 173 fewer video games performed. On common, that offers Messi the sting, with 0.786 objectives per recreation, in comparison with 0.736 for Ronaldo.
However for the entire numbers, Ronaldo is unparalleled, and he used these numbers to again up his case in opposition to the sport’s different all-time greats.
“I am speaking about numbers,” , per ESPN. “I feel I am essentially the most full participant to have existed. In my view, I feel it is me. I do the whole lot effectively in soccer. With my head, free kicks, left foot. I am quick, I am sturdy.
“One factor is style — if you happen to like Messi, Pelé, Maradona, I perceive that and I respect that — however saying Ronaldo is not full. … I am essentially the most full. I have not seen anyone higher than me, and I say it from the guts.”
So does being the best aim scorer by whole objectives scored make Ronaldo the best participant in soccer historical past? Scoring objectives is clearly the first goal, however it’s actually not the one issue to contemplate.
Ronaldo has a formidable file of successful with seven European league titles and 5 Champions League titles whereas enjoying for Actual Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus. His 5 Ballon d’Or awards are the second-most all-time. He is scored in 5 totally different World Cups . However he is didn’t win a World Cup, a undeniable fact that stands as the most important strike in opposition to his spectacular legacy.
For comparability’s sake once more, Messi is the all-time Ballon d’Or winner with eight. He has 12 European league titles to his title, together with 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona. He is a four-time Champions League winner. And he has one vital achievement that Ronaldo doesn’t. Messi received a Phrase Cup with Argentina in 2022, a victory that within the minds of many.
In fact, there’ll by no means be a definitive reply.
