Cristiano Ronaldo: “I deserve more Golden Balls than Messi”
Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo said he deserves to finish his football career with more Golden Balls than his rival in Barcelona, Lionel Messi, and that he hopes to consolidate himself as the best player of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo with the Juventus uniform. / Via REUTERS
Reuters | Hardik Vyas
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Leer en español: Cristiano Ronaldo: “Me merezco más Balones de Oro que Messi”
Cristiano, 34, has won five times the famous trophy of France Football magazine that rewards the best player in the world, the same as Messi, but is eager to get more as he moves towards the twilight of his career.
"Messi is in soccer history," Ronaldo said in an interview with British ITV on Tuesday. "But I think I need six, seven or eight to be above him," he said, referring to the Golden Ball trophies.
"I'd love to, I think I deserve it."
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Portugal's captain said he was not a friend of the Argentine, but credited his rival for helping push him further in his own career.
"My relationship with him, we are not friends, but we have shared this stage for 15 years," Ronaldo said. "I know he has pushed me to be a better player and I have push him to be a better player too."
Ronaldo, who also played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, has five UEFA Champions League champion medals and led Portugal to victory in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and in the League of Nations UEFA 2019.
"I don't follow the records, the records follow me. I'm addicted to success, and I don't think it's a bad thing, I think it's good," Ronaldo said.
"It motivates me. If you're not motivated, it's better to stop."
