Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited the timeless debate surrounding the greatest footballer in history, asserting that he considers himself the ultimate and most complete player while rejecting the reduction of his current performances to merely a race toward the 1,000-goal mark.
The Portuguese star’s comments emerged in clips broadcast by CNN Portugal, coinciding with him reaching 980 official career goals after netting against Al-Diriyah during Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory in the Saudi Pro League.
“People don’t appreciate what I’m doing right now, nor the level I am producing or the goals I am scoring. They are far more interested in how many goals I have left to reach 1,000,” Ronaldo said.
He added: “I don’t like that, because things should happen naturally. Whether I score 920, 925, or 930 goals, I am the greatest in history—period. When it comes to scoring goals, the numbers speak for themselves.”
The Al-Nassr captain continued: “I won’t say that I am obliged to reach 1,000 goals. If I reach that number it will be wonderful, but I don’t want it to turn into an obsession that overshadows what I am producing on the pitch at present.”
He further stated: “If someone prefers Messi, Pelé, or Maradona, that is a matter of personal taste and I respect it, but to say that Cristiano Ronaldo is not a complete player is a lie. I am the most complete player in history.”
The 41-year-old requires just 20 more goals to reach the unprecedented 1,000-goal milestone, having already become the first player to score at least 100 goals for four different clubs, alongside holding the record for the most goals in men’s international football.
