‘I am the best in history’ — Ronaldo explains why he’s better than Messi, Pele and Maradona

The interview, republished on Monday, October 12, came two days after the Portuguese Football Federation provisionally suspended the 41-year-old and opened disciplinary proceedings following his departure from the national team camp.

“I am the best in history, period. The numbers speak for themselves. I don’t know anyone better than me,” Ronaldo said, arguing that his superior goal count to other greats like Lionel Messi, Pelé, and Maradona places his one top.

The Al-Nassr forward also complained that attention had shifted from his current performances to whether he would reach 1,000 career goals.

“People are not valuing the form I am in, my goals,” he said, arguing that his standing should not depend on reaching another milestone.

Ronaldo has scored 980 goals in 1,337 professional appearances, leaving him 20 short of 1,000. He insisted the target remains an ambition rather than an obsession.

“If I scored 920 goals, 925, 930 … the best in history is me, full stop,” he said. “If I get there (to 1,000 goals), it is amazing, an objective, but I don’t think long-term.”

The interview was republished after Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen on September 30, following his benching throughout the 2-1 Nations League win over Norway, despite warming up.

Ronaldo later accused Jesus of breaking an agreement to explain his omission publicly. The coach denied making such an agreement, while Ronaldo apologised to supporters and teammates for leaving the camp and acknowledged that the federation could punish him.

The dispute has also divided public opinion in Portugal. A Pitagórica poll for TVI/CNN Portugal, conducted on October 1 and 2, found that 42 per cent of respondents sided with Jesus, compared with 14 per cent who supported Ronaldo.