This Isn’t How GOATs Are Made
I haven’t seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart… – Cristiano Ronaldo
Egos in soccer news are rare (I joke), but we’ve reached an all-time low with this one…
CR7, the Portuguese baller who’s been a well-respected talent within football for close to two decades, has only ruined his potential for true GOAT status by proclaiming the GOAT title.
“I’m the most complete. I haven’t seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart,” the Al Nassr star said during an interview with El Chiringuito this past Monday.
Cristiano Ronaldo, what are we doing here, lad? We’ve seen glimpses of your ego in the locker room and on the pitch, but this latest statement isn’t convincing anyone other than yourself.
Yes, Ronaldo is one of the most accomplished players in the history of soccer rumors. Cristiano Ronaldo’s career stats are filled with records, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has the trophies to back it up.
Of course, we cannot ignore Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals record of 923 goals, but self-claiming the title of GOAT doesn’t mean the very opinionated soccer fan base will think otherwise.
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “I’m the most complete player EVER. To say that Cristiano isn’t complete is a lie”.
“You may prefer Pele, Messi, Maradona, I understand and respect that”. pic.twitter.com/3if07DeR6k
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 4, 2025
How Dare Ronaldo Put Himself Above Pele, Maradona, and Messi
It’s one thing to recognize your talent, but to put yourself above names like Pele, Maradona, and Messi all in the same sentence is an absolute disgrace.
“One thing is taste – if you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand and respect that, but saying Ronaldo isn’t complete… I’m the most complete,” he also said during the interview.
According to Ronaldo, numbers are everything:
“Who’s the best goal scorer in history? It’s all about numbers. Full stop.”
However, there are a significant number of fans who argue Messi is the greatest ever, and the number of goals should also be aligned with playmaking abilities and overall contribution to a 90-minute game. For example, Inter Miami and Argentina’s greatest own more individual records than the self-proclaimed GOAT.
More to the point, how dare he place himself above Pele, Maradona, and Messi, three men who won the World Cup and received international-level awards that Ronaldo hasn’t come close to.
Just look at these Lionel Messi stats:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi legendary career stats:
👕 1065 games
⚽️ 837 goals
🎯 374 assists
🤝 1211 goal contributions
🏆 44 trophies
🥅 65 free-kicks
⭐️ 8 ballon d’Or
🏅 6 European golden boot
🥇 2 World Cup golden ballExcellent! 👏🏽🐐 pic.twitter.com/sV1L05S72j
— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) June 22, 2024
Fans React to Ronaldo’s Comments
This sort of behavior was always going to spark fan outrage, and after Fabrizio Romano posted Ronaldo’s comments, the negative responses flowed fast:
One fan said: “The best player never has to tell people they are the best.”
Another X user wrote: “The ego on this guy.”
Lionel Messi – 1 World Cup
Diego Maradona – 1 World Cup
Pele – 3 World CupsCristiano Ronaldo – Error 404 not found https://t.co/Flt2V889UF
— 𝐕𝐀𝐑 (@Ziyechman) February 4, 2025
A third fan commented: “Can’t dribble, can’t play-make, what is he on?”
My personal favorite response was: “Whenever he talks about something like that, he only shows his insecurities. No one denies he’s a top footballer and that he’s a part of history, but it is a bit embarrassing when he mentions something like that.”
Here’s some food for thought: Would Tom Brady be an NFL GOAT without winning the Super Bowl? Would Michael Jordan ever be considered a great without his NBA rings? And does Oleksandr Usyk receive legendary status without a world championship?
I think we all know the answer to that question. So, Ronaldo, without winning the most prestigious trophy in pro soccer—the World Cup—can we even consider him in the GOAT conversation?
Move on, buddy, you’re one of the best, but you aren’t the GOAT.
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