Cristiano Ronaldo is set to celebrate his 40th birthday tomorrow, and despite being on the verge of a new decade, he shows no signs of slowing down in his football career. The Portuguese forward, who recently scored his 923rd career goal for Al-Nassr, remains in exceptional physical condition and has no intention of retiring.
In a candid interview with Edouard Guerra on the Spanish television network "El Chingreto," Ronaldo asserted his belief that he is the most complete footballer ever, emphasizing his versatility and impressive stats across multiple facets of the game.
Ronaldo also shared his enduring affection for Real Madrid, where he achieved legendary status as the club’s all-time top scorer. He reflected on his time in Spain, stating that Madrid will always hold a special place in his heart, especially as his children grew up there.
Ronaldo mentioned that while he left the club to seek new challenges, he still maintains a good relationship with President Florentino Perez and even suggested the possibility of returning one day to contribute further to the club.
In a surprising revelation, Ronaldo disclosed that he nearly joined Barcelona, Real Madrid's arch-rivals, early in his career. While still at Sporting Lisbon, he was approached by a representative from Barcelona, but the deal fell through, and he ultimately signed with Manchester United. Ronaldo admitted to enjoying his visits to Camp Nou, where he was often booed by the fans, but it made scoring there even sweeter, and he enjoyed it more than his goals at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo also discussed his historic rivalry with Lionel Messi, calling it one of the greatest in football history. He acknowledged the immense tension between the two, particularly during the iconic El Clasico matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The two shared mutual respect, with Ronaldo recalling a moment where he translated for Messi at a ceremony. As for the future, Ronaldo praised Jude Bellingham, likening him to Zinedine Zidane, and noted that while he has no interest in coaching, owning a club might be a more likely venture down the road.
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