As one of the all-time greats, praise for Cristiano Ronaldo has been a constant thing wherever he goes. We will look at what the best have had to say.
As one of the greatest players to have graced this planet, Cristiano Ronaldo’s exploits over the past decade have won him a host of admirers.
The Portuguese star has literally smashed every single goal record there is, with his killer instincts inside the box proving too much for defenses. It’s allowed him to win many club and international honors.
So, without further ado, we will look at the five biggest quotes on Ronaldo from football legends, coaches, and even rivals.
Eusebio – The Portugal legend
Ever since he burst into the scene, fans have compared Cristiano Ronaldo to Portuguese great Eusebio.
Much like the Juventus man, Eusebio was a beast inside the box and had a lethal right foot. He was even a Ballon d’Or winner himself in 1965 and held the mantle of Portugal’s record scorer until Ronaldo took it.
And speaking on his rightful heir, the Benfica icon had nothing but praise for a young Ronaldo.
“He has magic in his boots,” said Eusebio.
“The first thing you notice about him is that he is incredibly quick and very, very powerful for such a young man.
“He has great, close control and his technique is excellent. He believes he can do anything with the ball, and that confidence makes him very special indeed.”
Just hearing this must’ve been quite exhilarating for the young player back then.
Sadly, though, Eusebio passed away in January 2014 at the age of 71.
The Special One speaks
Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed the most prolific form of his career under Jose Mourinho after providing 168 goals and 49 assists in 164 matches in their three years together at Real Madrid.
And Mourinho, who has coached many great players in his career, made the ultimate admission on Ronaldo’s talent in 2013.
“He is the best,” said Mourinho.
“The best in the world, yes. Probably the best ever.
“I saw [Diego] Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele. But Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best… Cristiano is a goals machine. He is an incredible player. He is like [Zinedine] Zidane, there will never be another Ronaldo.”
Mourinho won the Copa del Rey and famously ended Barcelona’s La Liga dominance with Ronaldo in 2011/12.
“He does things I’ve never seen”
An 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo quickly caught the eye of Manchester United’s legendary skipper, Sir Bobby Charlton.
Ronaldo impressed the man, who captained England to the 1966 World Cup, right from the very start. Naturally, Charlton kept tabs on him and marveled at the player’s progress.
“He does things I have never seen from any other player and it really is marvellous to watch,” said Charlton.
“It takes a great player to grab the bull by the horns and make things happen, but he has done it repeatedly.”
Ronaldo later led the ex-Ballon d’Or winner’s old club to three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Zinedine’s unique praise
Football is a game played with 11 players on each side, and there is no such thing as “I” in a team.
But Zinedine Zidane, who coached one of history’s most successful teams in Real Madrid, knew Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact behind the club’s glory-laden years.
“When you play with Ronaldo on your team, you are already 1-0 up,” said Zizou.
Together, Ronaldo and Zidane reached heights that were previously unimaginable to all of us.
They led Real Madrid to three successive Champions League titles, a La Liga, and two FIFA Club World Cups in a two-and-a-half-year stint.
Zidane, meanwhile, was able to help bring out the best of Ronaldo as the forward won back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards.
He ended up managing 112 goals and 29 assists in his 114 games under Zidane.
The great rival Messi speaks
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the ruling forces in world football for over a decade now. Nothing has stood in their way as they smashed countless records over the years.
This has led to a long debate as to who is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) between the pair. Players, coaches, pundits, and fans have all voiced contrasting opinions.
But upon winning the European Golden Shoe award in 2013, Messi took a moment to acknowledge Ronaldo’s prowess as a goalscorer for the first time.
“(Ronaldo) is always there scoring goals in all the games and taking part in his club and the national side,” said Messi.
“He has been doing that for many years and whether he is at his peak or a bit below it makes no difference.”
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