Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has revealed that, for him, long-time teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is not the greatest player in history.
Soccer’s GOAT debate is the topic of near-constant debate, fuelled by the modern day rivalry of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both of whom have genuine claims at the title. In a recent interview with Edu Aguirre on La Sexta CR7 made his own opinions clear, describing himself as “the most complete” player of all time.
Ronaldo said: “I believe I am the most complete player that ever existed. I respect people who like Messi, Pelé, or Maradona more. But to say that Cristiano isn’t the most complete is a lie. Honestly, I haven’t seen anyone better than me.”
During the peak of Ronaldo’s career he played alongside Benzema, with the Frenchman providing the perfect foil for his explosive talents. Speaking recently Benzema said that he respects Ronaldo’s claim to be the greatest, but revealed that his own pick is another former Real Madrid star.
“Anyone can say whatever they want; if he thinks he’s the best in history, then he is. There are many, for me, it’s Ronaldo, the one from Brazil. I don’t like making comparisons between players because everyone has their own story,” Benzema said to TNT Brasil.
Benzema’s pick, the original Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima is regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time, a striker who transformed the role and went on to influence a generation of players after him. The Brazilian broke through with Cruzeiro and spent time in the Netherlands before signing for Barcelona and scoring 47 goals in his first season, becoming the youngest player to win FIFA World Player of the Year at the age of 20.
He then signed for Inter Milan for a world-record transfer fee but suffered the first of a series of serious knee injuries, missing more than 18 months before returning to lead Brazil to the World Cup in 2002.
Still only 26 years old, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid after that World Cup triumph but the injuries had robbed him of his explosive pace. Nevertheless he continued an impressive rate of scoring at the Bernabeu, and even into late-career stints with AC Milan and Corinthians back in Brazil.
Asked about his first impressions of Ronaldo, former Barcelona teammate Óscar García said: “I’d never seen anyone play football with such technical ability, creativity and precision at that incredible speed. What stood out to all of us, from the moment we met Ronnie, was that he could do things which other players found very difficult and make them look easy.”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere