Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, shared his thoughts on his career, his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe's role at Real Madrid in an interview with CNN Portugal.
The Portuguese star stated that his rivalry with Messi positively influenced their performances on the pitch and noted that the relationship between the two players is based on mutual respect.
For 15 years, Messi and I shared the same stage at award ceremonies, and we always got along very well. He has always treated me well. Ours was a healthy rivalry, like the Senna-Prost rivalry. We motivated each other.
Ronaldo expressed that he does not make long-term plans regarding the final chapter of his career and is instead focusing on his current performance. Speaking assertively about goalscoring, the experienced footballer argued that the numbers speak for themselves.
I am the best in history when it comes to scoring goals, period. The numbers tell the whole story. I won't say 'I must reach 1,000 goals,' but if I do, that would be great. History has already been written. I will be honest, I could end my career today and have no regrets. But I am still in very good shape. I continue to make a difference. Instead of thinking long-term, I am living in the moment.
In the interview, Ronaldo also touched upon Real Madrid's French star Kylian Mbappe, suggesting that he believes playing in the center-forward position is challenging for him. According to Ronaldo, Mbappe does not fit the profile of a classic number 9 who constantly waits in the penalty area.
Ronaldo stated that if he were in Madrid, he would want to teach Mbappe the number 9 role, noting that the French player could be more effective when he enters the penalty area from deep, utilizing his speed and power. The Portuguese player reminded that he himself was not a center-forward at the beginning of his career but adapted to the role over time.
News Source: 12punto
