Cristiano Ronaldo turns 40
“I’m the best player in football history. I haven’t seen anyone better than me in football history, and I’m saying truth from my heart,” Ronaldo said in an interview with media outlet LaSexta TV.
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of Portugal’s greatest legends, celebrated his 40th birthday this Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
The football star, widely regarded as one of the top goal scorers in history, remains active, currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
With a career decorated with five Ballon d’Or titles, multiple Champions League trophies, and numerous records, Ronaldo continues to defy age.
In an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta, Al Nassr and Portugal superstar Ronaldo declared himself “the greatest scorer in history’ and that he had “never seen anyone better than me.”
“Although I am not left-footed, I am in the top 10 in history for goals scored with the left foot. These are numbers, I am the most complete player who has ever existed,” Ronaldo said.
“I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I am fast, I am strong, I jump ... I have never seen anyone better than me.”
“I'm the best player in football history. I haven’t seen anyone better than me in football history, and I’m saying the truth from my heart,” Ronaldo stated.
“One thing is taste. If you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand that and respect that, but saying Ronaldo isn't complete ... I’m the most complete. I haven't seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart.”
Comparison with Mbappé
During the interview, Ronaldo also shared a lighthearted moment about his son’s admiration for Mbappé. “My son Mateo really likes Mbappé. He always tells me, ‘Dad, Mbappé is better than you.’”
And I reply: “‘No, Dad is better than Mbappé. I have more goals than him,’” Ronaldo said, laughing. His remark quickly gained traction among football fans, sparking further debate over the statistics of the two players.
Ronaldo dismissed retirement rumours and said that he will decide the day he leaves football.
Behind the scenes, however, the Portuguese footballer may be preparing for what comes next, investing in new areas such as social media or shareholdings in companies.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Quest for 1,000 Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo’s career is nothing short of legendary. Having played for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, he has left his mark at every club he has represented.
His tenure at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018 remains one of the most dominant eras in football history, with Ronaldo scoring an astounding 450 goals in 438 matches and securing four Champions League titles.
Now playing for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo continues to defy expectations. At 40 years old, he remains a goal-scoring machine, leading his team with 23 goals and four assists in 25 matches this season.
His rigorous fitness regimen and unwavering discipline have allowed him to maintain his elite performance level.
One of Ronaldo’s final career goals is to reach the 1,000-goal milestone, a feat that would place him among the most elite footballers in history, alongside legends like Pelé and Romário.
Career highlights:
923 goals in 1,263 matches
5 Ballon d’Or awards
4 Champions League titles with Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer (450 goals)
23 goals and 4 assists in the current season with Al-Nassr
Ronaldo has more than one billion followers across all social media platform - he has 648 million followers on Instagram, 170m on Facebook and 114.6m on X, previously known as Twitter.
His historic rivalry with Messi defined an era, and his evolving relationship with Mbappé highlights his continued influence on the new generation of footballers.