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If anyone has set the bar at an untouchable level for two decades, it is Cristiano Ronaldo. The star began his journey with Sporting, moved to Manchester United, joined Real Madrid, and plied his trade in Italy with Juventus. He has now returned to Old Trafford. More notably, though, is the way Ronaldo has broken records in nearly every club he has played for.
He became the first player to win the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the same year while at Manchester United. While with Los Galacticos, he became the quickest player to score 50, 100, and even 250 goals in La Liga history. At Juventus, he scored a brilliant 37 goals during his second season, a new Bianconeri record. Now he's back at Manchester United, where the clinical maestro recently scored his 800th career goal for club and country.
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While he is regarded by some as the best player in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo has had an epic rivalry with Lionel Messi over the last decade or so. Although Messi has garnered seven Ballon d'Or awards, Ronaldo's five is an impressive number surpassed only by the Argentine magician.
Legends have struggled to compare the two world-class stars. While some have picked Messi as their greatest ever, here are five who have picked Cristiano Ronaldo:
#5 Carlo Ancelotti | managed Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo has always scored goals, but Carlo Ancelotti is highly credited for pushing the stakes even higher for the maestro. The Italian manager placed Ronaldo at center-forward, which led to an astonishing 48 La Liga goals for the star in 2014-15.
Ancelotti has only had words of praise for his former player, calling Ronaldo the best he has ever seen, saying:
"I’ve seen Ronaldo play a lot of times, of course, but when you’re up close every day, his technical skills are unbelievable. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. He’s scored in every game in this period — 25 goals in 18 games — and he can score more.”
#4 Harry Redknapp | legendary English manager
Although Harry Redknapp never got the opportunity to manage Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous manager watched the star's rise to greatness at Manchester United.
When asked who he would pick over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Redknapp wasted no time in his praise for the 'incredible' Portuguese legend. He said:
"I’m Ronaldo over Messi. I love both of them, but I’m Ronaldo. There’s him, (Diego) Maradona, Pele; George Best was a genius. I’m a big fan of George Best, but you look at Ronaldo, he’s done it on the world stage; he’s won everything; he’s just incredible.”
#3 Iker Casillas | Real Madrid legend, former Cristiano Ronaldo teammate
Legendary Los Blancos goalkeeper Iker Casillas has also picked Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest player in the game's history. Casillas is arguably one of the best goalkeepers himself to have graced the game. His stint as Madrid's number one saw the team win every major competition.
Although Casillas had to face Lionel Messi often at El Clasico, Cristiano Ronaldo takes the cake for the legend. He said about his former Real Madrid teammate:
"I'd choose Cristiano over Messi because he's a player who gives us so much every season, and he's a player I spend time with every day. I know him, know who he is, know how he trains, know what he wants and where he wants to get to."
#2 Zinedine Zidane | France and Real Madrid legend
Zinedine Zidane amassed titles and trophies with the Madridistas, both as player and later as manager. Although the former midfield maestro never got the chance to play alongside Ronaldo, he managed the Portuguese star in the last decade.
Zizou's brilliant tactics alongside Ronaldo's penchant for goals saw Madrid win three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues. It's no surprise Zidane regards Ronaldo as the greatest of all time. He said about Ronaldo:
“Cristiano is the best. Messi is his rival, and it's the rivalry everyone wants to see. But Ronaldo is phenomenal. There are no words to describe him. He is much better than me even though I had a great career. He's the greatest of all time.”
#1 Roberto Carlos | Brazil and Real Madrid legend
Roberto Carlos never played with Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. However, his rank as one of the legends who redefined the full-back position while at Madrid lends credence to his words.
The legend knows Messi is phenomenal, but has noted that Ronaldo has an advantage:
“I watch him (Cristiano) train every day and the way he works is exciting. He wants to improve every day. That's the difference with Messi. Leo is a phenomenon, but that side of Cristiano, of training, professionalism, focus, motivation, success... Cristiano has an advantage over all the others.”
