Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football icon, has proclaimed himself the greatest player in history, placing himself above his fierce competitor Lionel Messi, as well as football legends Diego Maradona from Argentina and Brazil's Pele.

The ongoing discussions regarding who deserves the title of the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in football have predominantly centered around Ronaldo and Messi. Both athletes have amassed a total of 13 Ballon d'Or awards—Ronaldo with five and Messi with eight.

Historically, comparisons have also included Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, and Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 tournament.

However, in a recent interview with La Sexta, Ronaldo asserted that he stands as the superior player among this esteemed group, all of whom have been celebrated at various times as the greatest to ever play the sport.

‘Most Complete Player’

“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,” he said in the now-viral interview.

“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.”

‘Best in History’

Ronaldo, at 39, is one of the top goal-scorers in football history. Now playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, he’s getting closer to hitting an incredible milestone of 1,000 career goals. So far, he’s scored 923 times in 1,261 appearances for both his clubs and the national team.

While he’s chasing that 1,000-goal achievement, Ronaldo feels he’s already proven himself worthy of being called the greatest player of all time.

“Even if I score 920, 925, or 930 goals, the best in history is me,” he said. “Period.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s professional career encompassed tenures with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.