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Former Portugal head coach Fernando Santos has called Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest player of all time, ahead of Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi according to former Portugal head coach Fernando Santos.
Santos, who led Ronaldo and Portugal to Euro 2016 triumph, was relieved of his duties after a dismal performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that saw them exit at the quarter-final stage.
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Despite a frosty relationship with Ronaldo that stemmed from the Portugal captain being left out of the starting lineup for the World Cup last-16 game against Switzerland, Santos believes the 38-year-old will go down in history as the world's best.
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08:59 - 09.11.2023
Ronaldo stopped talking to me after I benched him: Ex-Portugal manager reveals
Former Portugal head coach Fernando Santos has opened up on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Santos calls Ronaldo best footballer in history
In an interview with Portuguese outlet A BOLA, Santos eulogised Ronaldo in a special way.
"Cristiano is the best player ever.
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"For me, it's the best, and I've always said that as National Coach, even though a lot of people don't agree with me.
"You may like the style more, or the style less as geniuses have no comparison — But beyond the great quality, the numbers speak for it.
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"Who has, individually and collectively, the most records, the most goals, the most caps? He won in Spain, he won in England, he won in Italy, he won with the National Team, he has two National Team trophies.
"He won everything and more. And therefore, there are no hypotheses at all. He's the best player in the world. I have always loved Eusébio, and I have always liked Pelé, I have no doubt in saying that he is the best in the world."
What next for Ronaldo?
Ronaldo has put a disappointing 2022 behind him to return to his dominating best, scoring and assisting on a weekly basis for his club side Al Nassr.
The ex-Manchester United man will also be hoping to lead Portugal to glory at next year's Euros.
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