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 famous person 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 informed 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 probably the most full participant who has ever existed.
“I play properly with my head, I take good free kicks, I’m quick, I’m sturdy, I soar… 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 probably the most within the sport’s historical past. That features His 135 objectives in 217 profession worldwide video games which are additionally probably 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 sport, in comparison with 0.736 for Ronaldo.
However for the full numbers, Ronaldo is unparalleled, and he used these numbers to again up his case towards the sport’s different all-time greats.
“I am speaking about numbers,” , per ESPN. “I believe I am probably the most full participant to have existed. In my view, I believe it is me. I do all the things properly in soccer. With my head, free kicks, left foot. I am quick, I am sturdy.
“One factor is style — for those who like Messi, Pelé, Maradona, I perceive that and I respect that — however saying Ronaldo is not full. … I am probably the most full. I have never seen anyone higher than me, and I say it from the guts.”
So does being the best objective scorer by whole objectives scored make Ronaldo the best participant in soccer historical past? Scoring objectives is clearly the first goal, nevertheless it’s definitely not the one issue to contemplate.
Ronaldo has a formidable file of successful with seven European league titles and 5 Champions League titles whereas taking part in for Actual Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus. His 5 Ballon d’Or awards are the second-most all-time. He is scored in 5 completely different World Cups . However he is did not win a World Cup, a incontrovertible fact that stands as the largest strike towards 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.
So who’s actually the GOAT? Thankfully, for the sake of sports activities debate, there isn’t any definitive reply in a sport that is as widespread as soccer.