Cristiano Ronaldo is the ‘greatest player of all time’ and is ‘better than Pele’, according to his agent Jorge Mendes.
Ronaldo scored the 700th goal of his career in Portugal’s 2-1 defeat against Ukraine on Monday – to become the sixth player in history to reach that landmark.
The 34-year-old – now playing his club football in Serie A with Juventus – still has some way to go to beat the all-time record of 800 goals set by former Czech Republic forward Josef Bican, but Mendes insists Ronaldo is not done with breaking records just yet.
Speaking to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Mendes said: ‘The numbers do not lie. The overwhelming way in which Cristiano Ronaldo shatters records elevates him to the category of the best player in the history of football and with a big difference compared to the second.
‘For all that he has achieved in the services of the different clubs which he has represented, either in England or in Spain or now in Italy, but also with the Portuguese national team.
‘The fact is that with Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal has already played three finals, winning two,’ Mendes explains in reference to Portugal winning Euro 2016 and this year’s inaugural UEFA Nations League, as well as being runners-up at Euro 2004.
Mendes also described the moment he first spotted Ronaldo as a 16-year-old, seeing straight away his scary talent alongside his determination.
Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi currently trails the Portuguese superstar in the all-time scoring tally on 672, though the Argentine is two years Ronaldo’s junior.
Internationally, Ronaldo will now set his sights on the all-time international goalscoring record, held by Ali Daei.
The former Iran forward scored 109 times in 149 games for his country, while 34-year-old Ronaldo is currently on 95 from 162 caps.
Ronaldo’s 700 goals have come from 976 senior matches, and with no end to the Portuguese’s prolific form in front of goal for both Juventus and Portugal in sight, he could rack up a lot more as he nears the climax of his career.
dailymail.co.uk
