The praise for Cristiano Ronaldo comes from none other than the legendary Brazilian footballer, King Pelé. In an interview with Time, Pelé expressed admiration for Ronaldo’s exceptional talent and competitive spirit. He stated, “When I was playing, I would have liked to have Cristiano in my team. I would like to encourage him to continue to work hard and pass on his passion for football to young people. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most influential athlete in the world today. I really respect his competitive spirit on the field; it’s no surprise that he is considered the best today.”
Pelé’s words are significant, considering his stature in the football world and his rare praise for a non-Brazilian player. However, some speculate whether Pelé’s admiration for Ronaldo might also be a means of indirectly criticizing Ronaldo’s long-standing rival, Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Tags: Ballon d’Or, Brazil, compliments, Cristiano Ronaldo, Spain, Pelé, Portugal, Real Madrid
