Cristiano Ronaldo: Lionel Messi is great, but I’m most complete

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is “the most complete player to have existed,” saying he respects fans who prefer Lionel Messi, Pelé or Diego Maradona, but arguing that statistics back up his claim.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 39, has broken a host of records during his career and is the highest men’s goalscorer in football history with 923 goals, the latest coming in a brace in Al Nassr’s 4-0 AFC Champions League win over Al Wasl on Monday.

“Who’s the best goalscorer in history? It’s about numbers. Full stop,” Ronaldo told Spanish television show El Chiringuito in an extensive interview on Monday.

“Who’s the player in history who’s scored most goals with their head, their left foot, penalties, free kicks? I was looking the other day, and not being left-footed, I’m in the top 10 goalscorers with their left foot in history. And with my head, and with my right foot, and penalties. All of them.”

Ronaldo faced constant comparisons with Messi throughout his career, as both battled to be recognised as the best player on the planet.

“I’m talking about numbers,” Ronaldo said. “I think I’m the most complete player to have existed. In my opinion, I think it’s me. I do everything well in football: with my head, free kicks, left foot. I’m fast, I’m strong.

“One thing is taste — if you like Messi, Pelé, Maradona, I understand that and I respect that — but saying Ronaldo isn’t complete… I’m the most complete. I haven’t seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart.”

At 39, Ronaldo still isn’t contemplating retirement from club or international football.

“I’m so competitive that sometimes I forget what I’ve achieved,” he said, “Because it gives me motivation to do more and do better every year … I think that’s the difference with others. Somebody else in my position would have left football 10 years ago. I’m different, full stop.”

Ronaldo was one of the first elite players to move to the Saudi Pro League, when he left Manchester United and signed for Al Nassr in 2023.

“People don’t know, they give their opinion, they talk too much,” he said, when asked about the quality of the Saudi league.

“It’s a shame, because it’s a different reality when people talk about Arabia and the USA. [Is Major League Soccer worse?] Obviously, but as it’s Arabia, it’s disrespected … People don’t know what they’re talking about. With those [players] who are here, you have to respect it.”

Ronaldo discussed his departure from Real Madrid in 2018, saying the club “didn’t behave well with him” in contract negotiations, but said he wouldn’t rule out a return to the Bernabéu one day when his career ends.

He praised Madrid star Jude Bellingham, saying the England midfielder “reminds me of [Zinedine] Zidane.”

“Zidane was brilliant, beautiful,” Ronaldo said. “Bellingham is 21, he has his whole future ahead of him. The lad will be a top player.”