Cristiano Ronaldo has reflected on his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi, insisting he is the greatest footballer in history as he closes in on the 1,000-goal milestone.
Ronaldo recalled how he and Messi shared the Ballon d’Or stage for more than a decade, revealing that he occasionally acted as a translator for the Argentine during ceremonies.
READ: Lack of strong opposition could save Infantino
“We shared the award stages for 15 years,” Ronaldo told CNN Portugal. “And we always got along very well. I remember a time or two translating for him what they were saying in English, ‘Messi, you’re going to stay here’.”
The 41-year-old believes their rivalry brought out the best in both players, comparing their competition to that of Formula 1 legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. “I think we motivated each other,” he said.
READ: Flick says 1-0 will do in Istanbul
Despite respecting those who consider Messi, Pele or Diego Maradona the greatest, Ronaldo remains convinced of his own standing in football history. “I am the best in history, full stop,” he declared, adding that he is not obsessed with reaching 1,000 career goals.
Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
