Brazil legend Cafu hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo's 'best player in football history' comment: 'He was best for 6-7 years'

Cafu hits back to Cristiano Ronaldo's 'best player in football history' comment

Cafu recently shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo’s bold claim of being the most complete player in football history. While the former Brazilian right-back acknowledged Ronaldo’s incredible career, he made it clear that he does not believe the Portuguese star is the greatest footballer of all time.

At 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to impress with his goal-scoring prowess in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. With over 900 career goals and numerous individual and team accolades, Ronaldo has cemented his place among football’s all-time greats. However, his recent statement during an interview with El Chiringuito journalist Edu Aguirre—where he proclaimed himself as the most complete and best player in history—has sparked debate in the football community.

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Cafu, a two-time World Cup winner and Brazil’s most capped player, recently weighed in on Ronaldo’s claim. When asked by journalist Randall Vargas if Ronaldo was the greatest player in history, Cafu responded (via Costa Rican outlet La Nacion):

"Cristiano is a phenomenon, but not the best player of all time. If we talk about all time, we have to mention Maradona, Pele, Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, and Garrincha. We are talking about incredible players."

The Brazilian legend further elaborated:

“Cristiano Ronaldo was the best for six or seven years, but in a discussion about the best in history, we must consider footballers who played better than him.”

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"The Numbers Say Everything" – Ronaldo’s Self-Proclaimed Status as the Greatest

Cristiano Ronaldo has never shied away from declaring himself the greatest player in football history. Prior to his latest remarks, he had repeatedly stated that he considers himself the best, regardless of public opinion.

In a 2015 interview with the BBC, Ronaldo confidently asserted his belief in his own greatness:

"I don't need to say 'I'm in the history of football, I'm a legend.' The numbers say everything. To improve more is very tough. I just want to maintain because this, I think, is the most difficult part for a football player."

He continued:

"In my mind, I'm always the best. I don't care what people think, what they say. In my mind, not just this year but always, I'm always the best."

When asked about comparisons with Lionel Messi, who was playing for Barcelona at the time, Ronaldo replied:

"It's opinions, I respect the opinions. Maybe in your opinion, Messi is better than me, but in my mind, I am better than him. So it's simple."

Ronaldo’s unwavering confidence and statistical achievements continue to fuel the debate over his place in football history, with opinions remaining divided among fans, players, and pundits alike.