Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed he is the greatest footballer in history, insisting his performances and goals at 41 are not receiving the appreciation they deserve, while keeping his 1,000-goal ambition in perspective.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again made his position clear in the debate over football’s greatest-ever player, insisting that his remarkable scoring record speaks for itself and that his current performances deserve greater recognition.
In an interview with CNN Portugal, excerpts of which were published by The Athletic, the Al Nassr forward expressed frustration over what he believes is insufficient appreciation for his achievements, particularly at this stage of his career.
“People do not give the level I produce and my goals the recognition they deserve,” Ronaldo said, underlining his belief that his performances continue to set him apart despite being 41.
The Portuguese superstar was equally assertive when discussing his place in football history.
“I’m the best in history, period. The numbers speak for themselves,” he declared, making no attempt to hide his confidence in his legacy.
Ronaldo backs his claim with extraordinary numbers
Ronaldo’s career statistics remain central to his argument. According to the figures cited in the interview, the Portuguese forward has scored 980 goals in 1,337 professional appearances for club and country.
His continued pursuit of goals with Al Nassr has kept the prospect of reaching the historic 1,000-goal milestone firmly in the spotlight.
However, Ronaldo suggested that crossing that threshold would be a remarkable achievement rather than a requirement to validate his standing among football’s all-time greats.
“If I score 920 goals, or 925, or 930, the best player in history is me, and that’s the end of it,” he said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner added that reaching 1,000 goals would be an extraordinary accomplishment and a target he continues to work towards, but insisted he was not consumed by the numbers.
“If I reach that figure, meaning 1,000 goals, it would be something amazing and a target I am working towards, but I don’t think about the long term,” Ronaldo said.
‘I don’t know what will happen tomorrow’
Despite his confidence in his abilities, Ronaldo acknowledged that the future remains uncertain, even for a player who has built his career around exceptional fitness, discipline and an insatiable appetite for scoring.
He admitted that his motivation could eventually change, leaving open the possibility that he might one day decide to walk away from the game.
“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and lose my motivation, and no longer want to play. I really don’t know what might happen,” he said.
The comments offered a glimpse into Ronaldo’s thinking as he continues his career into his forties, with the Portuguese star unwilling to commit himself to a fixed timeline for retirement.
CNN interview text reportedly deleted
The interview also took an unexpected turn after CNN reportedly removed the text of Ronaldo’s interview from its website a few hours after the excerpts circulated.
The deletion added an intriguing twist to the episode, although no explanation for the removal was provided in the information available.
For now, Ronaldo’s message remains unmistakable: he believes his performances continue to merit greater appreciation, his scoring record supports his claim to footballing greatness, and reaching 1,000 career goals would be a historic bonus rather than the deciding factor in his legacy.
