Building a Legacy
As well as being the best on the pitch, Ronaldo has made a series of moves off the pitch that may ultimately help him be remembered as the best of all time. He has funded his own museum that is located in Portugal, and the exhibits allude to just how incredible his career has been. The Portuguese star was also involved in his self-titled documentary that provided further insight into his incredible life.
The Juventus star is also known for his generosity off the field, which resulted in Ronaldo being titled as the world’s most charitable sportsman in 2015. His career path may even eventually see him follow LeBron James into movies, as he recently revealed that he wanted to work in Hollywood upon his retirement.
Ronaldo’s on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, but his conduct off the field has further strengthened his rightful claim that he is currently the best in the world. Both on the field and off the field Ronaldo will now chase his final footballing goal, to become widely known as the greatest footballer of all time.
Big Game Performances
CR7 always produces his best on the biggest stage. He not only holds the record for the most Champions League final wins (5), he also holds the record of scoring in the most finals (3). The forward most famously held his nerve to score the winning penalty in 2016, against fierce rivals Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo has also managed to score at least 10 goals in every Champions League season dating back to 2011/12, and these goals are often scored during key moments of the knockout stages.
Ronaldo’s role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 win is also worth noting. His country was on the brink of elimination in the group stages until the forward equalised twice with two brilliant goals. During Portugal’s run to the final, Cristiano scored an important penalty shootout goal versus Poland, and he also scored and assisted in the semifinal against Wales. Even after being injured early on in the final, Ronaldo returned to the touchline and served as the motivation for his team to win. He is the ultimate player for the big occasions.
International Success
It is important that Cristiano Ronaldo has won silverware with Portugal, however even more impressive is the fact that the forward has always performed to his maximum capability while on international duty. In comparison, Messi has a great scoring record for Argentina, however, his performances have often failed to match the ones that he provides for Barcelona.
Ronaldo has also never turned his back on his national team, unlike Messi who has on more than one occasion. In terms of his failure to win a trophy with Argentina, the Barcelona star has been offered excuses for years, as players around him often get the blame. In Russia, he had teammates such as Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, and Nicolás Otamendi. In comparison, Ronaldo managed to win the Euros with a team that contained players such as Bruno Alves, Eder, and Jose Fonte.