Cristiano Ronaldo in the Words of Others
Few players have provoked as much awe as Cristiano Ronaldo. Here is what the managers who coached him, the teammates who trained beside him and the rivals who tried to beat him have said — in their own words.
Across more than two decades at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr and Portugal, Ronaldo has been described by some of the biggest names the game has ever known. These are some of the most memorable things they have said about him.
Cristiano was the most gifted player I managed. He surpassed all the other great ones I coached at United — and I had many.
He is the best. The best in the world. I saw Maradona a couple of times, I never saw Pelé — but Cristiano is amazing. This man is a goal machine.
It was a bit difficult to see him win trophies, but he gave La Liga prestige.
Today the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo. I think he's the best, because he's more consistent.
When you play with Ronaldo on your team, you are already 1-0 up.
Cristiano is unique for his talent and his professionalism. He doesn't talk much, but he is a leader.
From the day he walked through the door at Carrington to the day he left, Cristiano was the greatest trainer I ever worked with. His whole life was dedicated to it.
He wants to be the best at what he does, and he's always been like that. He's an absolute genius.
Cristiano Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United.
He does things I have never seen from any other player, and it is marvellous to watch.
It's hard to put into words the kind of career he's had. I knew him as a young player when he came over from Sporting Lisbon — a little bit flash, a little bit cocky, with all the skills.
Quotes are drawn from public interviews, press conferences, autobiographies and reputable media reports. Some have been condensed for length while preserving their original meaning. Dates are shown where they can be reliably established.
Frequently asked questions
What have other players said about Cristiano Ronaldo?
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Rivals and peers have repeatedly praised Ronaldo's goalscoring and dedication. Lionel Messi acknowledged that Ronaldo 'gave La Liga prestige', Pelé called him the best player in the world for his consistency, and former teammates like Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney describe him as the most dedicated professional they ever played alongside.
What did Sir Alex Ferguson say about Ronaldo?
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Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed Ronaldo for Manchester United in 2003, called him the most gifted player he ever managed — rating him above all the other greats he coached at Old Trafford.
Did Lionel Messi ever praise Ronaldo?
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Yes. Despite their long rivalry, Messi said in 2018 that while it was difficult to watch Ronaldo win trophies, he 'gave La Liga prestige' — a rare public acknowledgement between the two greatest players of their generation.
Who is better, Ronaldo or Messi?
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It is the sport's great unending debate. Ronaldo leads on total career goals, Champions League goals and international goals; Messi has more Ballon d'Ors and the 2022 World Cup. Many of the people quoted here watched both up close — and even they rarely agree.