10 greatest quotes on Cristiano Ronaldo

#8 Sir Bobby Charlton | Manchester United legend

Funeral For Manchester United Goalkeeper Harry Gregg Held In Northern Ireland

Sir Bobby Charlton is notable for winning the World Cup with England and picking up a Ballon d'Or as well. He is one of the greatest midfielders in the history of world football. Charlton survived the Munich Air disaster in 1958. He remained at Old Trafford to guide Manchester United back to the echelons of English and European football.

The legend saw a lot during his career in football, but Cristiano Ronaldo takes the cake for him:

"Cristiano Ronaldo is changing the game in Spain. With all that pace and power and athleticism, he is driving Real Madrid back into dominance both there and in Europe. You don’t sit back playing 10-yard passes the way you’re facing with this lad in your team. You go for it. I'm so glad he got his World Footballer of the Year Award. Lionel Messi is a great player, too, but Cristiano deserves the honour. He’s setting football alight."

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#7 Jose Mourinho | Roma manager

RC Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

The relationship between Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't always been rosy. Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, when he managed Ronaldo and the rest of the team.

During this period, Mourinho criticized Ronaldo for being unable to accept criticism, explaining:

"Maybe [Cristiano Ronaldo] thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore..."

However, this has done little to reduce the words of praise that Mourinho has for Ronaldo:

“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.”

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#6 Ronaldo Nazario | Real Valladoid president and Real Madrid legend

The Best FIFA Football Awards - Green Carpet Arrivals

Ronaldo Nazario de Lima was one of the few players who has shone for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Brazilian was one of the most ruthless strikers of the 90s and 2000s. Injuries may have hampered his progress often, but it didn't keep him from scoring almost every time he came on the pitch.

Notably, he won the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year award aged 20, also winning the Ballon d'Or at age 21. With all his prowess, Ronaldo de Lima still finds Cristiano Ronaldo unbelievable:

“I trained because I was made to. He trains because he loves to. There are very few players who take such care of their bodies, have such a fierce desire to improve. He’s unbelievable.”

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#5 Robbie Ryan | Millwall legend

Svetoslav Todorov of Portsmouth is tackled by Robbie Ryan of Millwall

Robbie Ryan and Millwall had to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United in the 2004 FA Cup final. Although Millwall enjoyed a scintillating run to the finals, they had absolutely no chance against a ruthless United outfit. For Robbie Ryan, however, marking Cristiano Ronaldo during the game was a highly memorable moment. He said:

“I have never played against anybody like that in my life and I was pleased to be taken off.”