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Former Leeds United forward Michael Bridges has said that his compatriot Mark Viduka could have had a Cristiano Ronaldo-like career but for a lack of professionalism and drive.
Ronaldo, 39, is the game's most prolific scorers - with over 900 goals for club and country - and is still going strong as he approaches his 40th birthday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner currently plays for Al-Nassr, whom he joined in December 2022 on a free transfer.
Bridges said on The Optus Sport Football Podcast about how things could have been for Viduka (as per Sport Optus):
"Mark should have been one of the best players in the world if he had the professionalism of Cristiano Ronaldo to go and work so hard off the field at his game.
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"He just had this natural ability the big man. ... I've got nowhere near the ability the big man had, and I worked my socks off when he came in to try and keep him out of the team."
The former Australia international continued:
"I was making sure that I was so professional. I took a leaf out of Harry Kewell's book as well, because he was so professional, first one and last one to leave. Mark was the last one (to arrive) and the first one to leave," he said.
"You were kind of like, if you could have turned back time to get him that, but would it have changed him? I don't know, but I think he could have been one of the greatest in the world.
He concluded:
"He still was up there. You talk about him as one of the Aussie greats, but I think we would have been talking about him in a completely different light, had he had that off the field drive or the professionalism."
Ronaldo is coming off a 44-goal season with Al-Nassr last season, including a record 36 strikes in the Saudi Pro League.
How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared this season?
Cristiano Ronaldo is in the midst of a solid, if not spectacular, second full season with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr. He has racked up 16 goals and three assists in 19 games across competitions.
Ten of those goals and two assists in 12 games have come in the Saudi top flight, where Stefano Pioli's side are fourth, 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
The Portugal captain has also scored four times in as many outings in the AFC Champions League Elite and two strikes (and an assist) in two games in the Saudi Super Cup.
