Ronaldo's old interview goes viral after suspension from Portugal: I am best in history

Cristiano Ronaldo's old interview from 2025 has gone viral after his suspension from the Portugal national team. In the interview, first published on his own channel, Ronaldo has claimed that he is the best footballer to ever play the game.

In Short

• Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive interview went viral on the internet
• Ronaldo, in the interview, said that his goalscoring record is not appreciated enough
• Ronaldo's comments went viral amid a fallout with coach Jorge Jesus

Editor’s note: This story was originally published after CNN Portugal aired Cristiano Ronaldo's interview on October 12, 2026, on their website. CNN released a one-minute-long teaser clip of the interview, and within hours of publication took the video down.

Cristiano Ronaldo's old interview where he claimed that he was the greatest ever to play football went viral on Monday, October 12, days after his suspension from the Portugal national team. The interview, originally published on his own YouTube channel in 2025, went viral after CNN Portugal uploaded a clip, before quickly taking it down.

In the interview, Ronaldo expressed frustration over what he felt was a lack of appreciation for his goals and achievements, insisting that his record spoke for itself.

“People aren’t appreciating my moments or my goals, you know?” Ronaldo said.

“I’m the best in history. Full stop. There’s no debate about who the best in history is. You just have to keep scoring goals. The numbers say it all,” he added.

Ronaldo's comments have reignited the debate over his place in football history, with Lionel Messi remaining his biggest rival in the conversation over the greatest player of all time. While Messi's triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup strengthened his claim, Ronaldo has continued to build on a career defined by goalscoring records, longevity and success across different leagues.

The resurfaced interview has also drawn attention to Ronaldo's views on his own legacy. The Portuguese forward insisted that he lives in the present rather than worrying about long-term milestones, admitting that he could wake up one day and no longer feel motivated to play.

“I don’t think about the long term. I’m telling you, and I swear to you on my children’s lives, I live in the moment, in the present. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I might wake up feeling unmotivated and not want to play anymore. I just don’t know,” he said.

DO THE NUMBERS BACK RONALDO'S GOAT CLAIM?

Ronaldo's statistical record gives him a strong argument, particularly when it comes to goalscoring and longevity. His career numbers, however, tell only part of the story when compared with Messi.

• Career goals – Lionel Messi: 934 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 980
• International goals – Lionel Messi: 125 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 146
• Champions League goals – Lionel Messi: 129 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 140
• Ballon d'Ors – Lionel Messi: 8 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 5
• World Cup titles – Lionel Messi: 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 0
• Career assists – Lionel Messi: 426 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 261
• World Cup knockout goals – Lionel Messi: 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo: 1.

The numbers highlight the difference between their careers. Ronaldo leads in career and international goals, as well as Champions League scoring, while Messi has more Ballon d'Or awards, more assists and the World Cup title that eluded his rival.

His supporters point to his longevity, success across different leagues and record-breaking performances, while Messi's case rests on his World Cup triumph, individual honours and influence as both a scorer and creator.

Ultimately, the answer depends on how greatness is measured. Ronaldo, however, has made it clear that he does not believe the debate should be open to interpretation.

RONALDO'S LOVE FOR EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEWS

This is not the first time Cristiano Ronaldo has used a high-profile interview to air his grievances. In 2022, his conversation with Piers Morgan sent shockwaves through football, with the forward accusing Manchester United of betraying him, criticising manager Erik ten Hag and questioning the club’s direction. United terminated his contract by mutual agreement shortly afterwards.

The latest interview follows a familiar pattern, although the focus has shifted from his treatment at a club to his place in football history. On both occasions, Ronaldo has used a public platform to challenge a narrative he believes fails to give him the recognition he deserves.

His comments on Lionel Messi are hardly new, either. In a 2012 interview with CNN, Ronaldo backed himself as the better player at the time, while admitting that comparisons between the two were becoming tiresome. More than a decade later, the rivalry continues to shape the debate over the greatest footballer of all time.

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