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‘I have never seen anyone better than me’: Cristiano Ronaldo claims he is the most complete player

The Portugal star holds most scoring records in men's international soccer, including most appearances with 217 and most goals with 135.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Euro 2024 group J qualifying soccer match between Iceland and Portugal in Reykjavík, Iceland. (AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 40 on Wednesday, said that he was the greatest scorer in the history of the sport as well as the most complete player.

“I am the greatest scorer in history. Although I am not left-footed, I am in the top 10 in history for goals scored with the left foot. These are numbers, I am the most complete player who has ever existed.
“I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I am fast, I am strong, I jump… I have never seen anyone better than me,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta.

The Portugal star holds most scoring records in men’s international soccer, including most appearances with 217 and most goals with 135.

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Ronaldo is also the only player to have scored at five different FIFA World Cup editions, appearing in every tournament since 2006. With the 2026 World Cup looming over the horizon, Ronaldo could potentially be the first man to appear in six World Cup finals.

He had said it before, more than once, that he feels he will go out as the best ever in the history of soccer. Whenever he was asked about the discussion of who is better, him or Lionel Messi, he always praised the Argentine but ended siding with himself.

Ronaldo’s most recent comments prompted a few reactions in the soccer world.

“I have a lot of respect for Cristiano and I don’t have to analyze his opinions. It’s what he thinks. I have my own thoughts and it isn’t that,” said Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi and his current coach at Inter Miami.

(With agency inputs)