MADRID – As Cristiano Ronaldo nears his 40th birthday, he maintains the same level of confidence and self-assurance that has characterized his illustrious career. The former Real Madrid forward, who now competes in Saudi Arabia, is set to celebrate this milestone on Wednesday and firmly believes he deserves to be recognized as the greatest soccer player of all time.

In an interview with Spanish television network La Sexta, Ronaldo proclaimed, “I am the greatest scorer in history. Although I am not left-footed, I rank in the top 10 for goals scored with my left foot. These statistics affirm my claim; I believe I am the most well-rounded player to have ever played the game.”

He went on to highlight his versatility, stating, “I excel with my head, take excellent free kicks, possess speed, strength, and jumping ability… I have never witnessed anyone surpass my capabilities.”

Ronaldo holds numerous records in men’s international soccer, most notably for the most caps with 217 appearances and the all-time leading goalscorer with 135 goals. His confidence in being the best has been unwavering, often asserting his claims in discussions surrounding the ongoing debate between his legacy and that of Lionel Messi. While he frequently expresses admiration for the Argentine superstar, he ultimately tends to favor his standing over Messi’s.

The soccer community has reacted to Ronaldo’s latest statements, with some prominent figures weighing in. Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi and the current coach of Inter Miami, commented, “I hold a lot of respect for Cristiano, and I don’t see the need to analyze his views. That’s his perspective, while I have my own, which differs.”