In 2017, after securing his fifth Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo made a definitive declaration that sent ripples across the football world: he considered himself the greatest player in history. This bold statement, made at a time when he had drawn level with Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or tally, immediately sparked debate, drawing a characteristically colourful response from Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
Speaking to France Football, as reported by Goal.com, Ronaldo left no room for ambiguity about his self-assessment. “I’m the best player in history, in the good moments and the bad ones,” he asserted. He elaborated on his perceived completeness as a player, stating, “I’ve never seen anyone better than me. I have always thought that. No footballer can do the things I can. There’s no player more complete than me. I play well with both feet, I’m quick, powerful, good with the head, I score goals, I make assists.”
Maradona’s sharp retort
Shortly after Ronaldo’s comments, Spanish publication AS sought out Maradona for his reaction. The Argentine icon’s initial response was blunt and dismissive. When asked about Ronaldo’s claim, Maradona simply stated, “Tell him to stop taking the p***.” He reiterated this sentiment when pressed further on where such a claim left him in the pantheon of football greats: “That’s why I said stop taking the p***.”
However, Maradona’s full assessment was more nuanced than his initial sharp retort suggested. While challenging the claim of outright supremacy, he also expressed admiration for Ronaldo’s qualities. Maradona described the Portuguese forward as “marvellous” and praised his crucial reliability. “Another of the things that I recognise in Cristiano Ronaldo is that when the team needs him, he’s there. He has that,” Maradona told AS. He even drew a comparison to Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff, noting, “after ‘El Flaco’ Cruyff, there weren’t many players who have had that quality.”
Read also: Neymar’s Brazil story ends in tears after Norway shock
When discussing his own list of football’s all-time greats, Maradona cited Alfredo Di Stéfano, Cruyff, and Messi as the undisputed best, but conceded that Cristiano Ronaldo “could be up there too.” Maradona also shared his weariness with the Ballon d’Or prize itself, remarking, “It’s very difficult to give just one Ballon d’Or to a player. Because giving one to Cristiano and to Messi… it’s boring now.”
The evolving GOAT debate
Since Ronaldo’s 2017 declaration, the landscape of the “greatest of all time” debate has continued to evolve. Lionel Messi has notably added to his legendary status, securing a World Cup title with Argentina in 2022 and an unprecedented eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023. These subsequent achievements have only intensified the discussion, ensuring that the quest to definitively name football’s single greatest player remains as captivating and contentious as ever.
Read also: Zlatan Ibrahimovic praises FIFA's controversial Balogun decision
