Cristiano Ronaldo declares himself the GOAT ahead of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona & Pele as Al-Nassr poster boy accuses his critics of 'lying'

Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself to be football’s GOAT, with the Portuguese explaining why he is ahead of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele.

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• CR7 has five Ballons d'Or
• Has rewritten the history books
• Believes he is most 'complete' player

• Getty/GOAL
  

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Debate regarding who can be considered the greatest player of all-time continues to rage. Ronaldo’s exploits have put him in that conversation alongside eternal rival Messi, 1986 World Cup winner Maradona and Brazil icon Pele.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo has five Ballons d’Or and countless major honours to his name, along with an impressive haul of records, and believes that he is more complete than Argentine superstar Messi – who has eight Golden Balls – and legendary forwards Maradona and Pele.

• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  CR7 has told when asked for his take on the GOAT discussion: “I think I'm the most complete player there has ever been. That's my opinion. It could be a question of taste but I think it's me. I do everything in football. I head well, I take set pieces well, I shoot well with my left foot, I'm fast, I'm strong, I jump.

  “Taste is one thing, saying this, that or that, whether you prefer Messi, Pele or Maradona, I hear it and I respect it but to say that Cristiano isn't complete is a lie. I'm the most complete. I don't see anyone better than me and I tell you that with all my heart.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo, who is still going strong as he prepares to turn 40, is the most prolific goalscorer that world football has ever seen. He considers that to put him at the top of the pile, with the evergreen frontman adding: “Even if I score 920, 925 or 930 goals, the best in history is me. Period.”