Where does Cristiano Ronaldo rank amongst the pantheon of greats?

Raees

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On a serious note, where does Cristiano now rank? IMO comparisons to you-know-how have always been unfair, despite him putting in a serious effort.. IMO there still remains an overall class differential but taking him out of the equation, where should Cristiano generally rank at this stage of his career.

A few years ago. many wouldn't have even had him in the top ten but by sheer force of will and the increasingly clutch nature of his performances means anything outside the top ten is ludicrous and he's got to the point where it might seem terribly biased to not even have in the top 5 all time list.

For me he's still behind Pele, Messi, Maradona and Beckenbauer (best defensive/midfield player) but he has reached the point where one could validly argue he's edged ahead of guys like Cruyff, Van Basten and R9.

Di Stefano? I don't know arguably not but where do you think he should be ranked. I think a greater appreciation needs to be shown towards his standing in the game because how often is it, you get two possibly top 5 candidates in the same generation of football. It is time he got the love he deserved.. probably the most unloved 'great' footballer there has been IMO which is a damn shame.
 

slored1

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Second only behind Messi in all competitions and in Champions League he is the GOAT.
 

Pogue Mahone

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2nd goat.
Yup.

I've never fully understood people who have firm opinions about footballers who plied their trade before they were born. All I know about Pele is a few clips of his best goals. I've not come close to being as familiar with his body of work as I am with Messi/Ronaldo. And I'm kind of suspicious of anyone my age or younger who talks with confidence about how players like him or Di Stefano rank on lists like this.

I'm old enough to have watched a fair bit of Maradonna (although, again, nowhere near as many games as Messi/Ronaldo - mainly on the basis his games weren't televised as much) and I'd put him right up there with the two latest GOAT nominees. Didn't come close to their sustained excellence over such a long period, though. So he would be my number three.
 

Raees

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Ahhh another Ronnie thread! Just what we needed.
I think its important to discuss his status in the history of the game outside of just Messi. If 60% plus think Messi is better, I am sure vast majority of those guys also love Ronaldo and want to be able to say Ronaldo is still better than A/B without always having to be limited to arguing Messi is better end of.. without getting to compliment what is also another GOAT level talent.
 

Raees

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Yup.

I've never fully understood people who have firm opinions about footballers who plied their trade before they were born. All I know about Pele is a few clips of his best goals. I've not come close to being as familiar with his body of work as I am with Messi/Ronaldo. And I'm kind of suspicious of anyone my age or younger who talks with confidence about how players like him or Di Stefano rank on lists like this.

I'm old enough to have watched a fair bit of Maradonna (although, again, nowhere near as many games as Messi/Ronaldo - mainly on the basis his games weren't televised as much) and I'd put him right up there with the two latest GOAT nominees. Didn't come close to their sustained excellence over such a long period, though. So he would be my number three.
What is the purpose of history, should all historians just quit their jobs? they have firm opinions on guys like Caesar or Alexander the great? yet we have actual full match footage to refer to and are expected to not have an opinion on what we have seen? Should we also refuse to listen to music or pass comment on such music from before we were born.. or films?
 

Vato

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We'll see after the world cup. Imagine him pulling a Maradona and leading portugal to their first WC in the same fashion as he did last night...

I know there's not much chance of that but it would be a game changer.
 

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Is there no Ronaldo thread?

He ranks in the highest tier. With past and current greats.

I mean, he's no Dirk Kuyt, but he's up there.
 

Pogue Mahone

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What is the purpose of history, should all historians just quit their jobs? they have firm opinions on guys like Caesar or Alexander the great? yet we have actual full match footage to refer to and are expected to not have an opinion on what we have seen? Should we also refuse to listen to music or pass comment on such music from before we were born.. or films?
If you were to apply the same rigour to football that historians apply to history, then you would watch every minute that was televised for each one of these players before coming to an opinion. Have you done that?

Re music and films, I don't have opinions on films I haven't watched or music I haven't listened to. Because that would be an inane thing to do. Do you see where I'm going with this?
 

SirAF

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If you were to apply the same rigour to football that historians apply to history, then you would watch every minute that was televised for each one of these players before coming to an opinion. Have you done that?

Re music and films, I don't have opinions on films I haven't watched or music I haven't listened to. Because that would be an inane thing to do. Do you see where I'm going with this?
:lol:
 

Minimalist

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I hear he's a shite drinker compared to Georgie Best, so there's that to consider.
 

roonster09

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Considering he is producing these numbers for nearly 10 years, I would say easily in top 5.
 

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This thread should be banned or merged. It is basically giving the opinion he’s not Better than Messi disguises as overall ranking.

Anyway, he’s the GOAT for me. I did not see Pele or Maradona.
 

Pexbo

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People do him a complete disservice by dismissing the mental side of his game and placing someone like Maradona ahead of him because of his technical ability.

There's so much more to being a footballer than technique and vision. Ronaldo's mental side of the game is off the charts and it's why I have him competing with Messi for the top spot and Maradona in third.
 

Pocho

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Top 2 with Gerd Müller as goalscorer. Top 10 as GOAT
 

adexkola

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Numerical rankings are too subjective. I prefer tiers.



This was made in 2013. With regards to Ronaldo I agree with him being a level below the likes of Pele, Beckenbauer, Cryuff... I'd move Messi up one tier as well.
 

SirAF

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People do him a complete disservice by dismissing the mental side of his game and placing someone like Maradona ahead of him because of his technical ability.

There's so much more to being a footballer than technique and vision. Ronaldo's mental side of the game is off the charts and it's why I have him competing with Messi for the top spot and Maradona in third.
Yeah, it's hard enough to get to the top, but to stay there for such a long time is significantly harder.
 

Inigo Montoya

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Not even Benfica fans think so anymore and Ronaldo literally gave them the middle finger a few years ago
Yeah it’s about opinions. I just think If you put Eusebio in the current and recent Madrid teams with the better protection afforded and all things bring equal, he’d probably score as many.

He was faster, played with a heavier ball and played with a largely Portuguese team and still turned over the multi national Real Madrid side.

I love Ronaldo BTW;)
 

Inigo Montoya

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Numerical rankings are too subjective. I prefer tiers.



This was made in 2013. With regards to Ronaldo I agree with him being a level below the likes of Pele, Beckenbauer, Cryuff... I'd move Messi up one tier as well.
Cruyff wasn’t as good as Best or Eusebio.

His influence as a coach however has proved greater
 

KirkDuyt

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Numerical rankings are too subjective. I prefer tiers.



This was made in 2013. With regards to Ronaldo I agree with him being a level below the likes of Pele, Beckenbauer, Cryuff... I'd move Messi up one tier as well.
For all the Dutch players that always make these lists, it seems wierd to me that Robben is always missing.

Guess the fact he's a whiny cheat plays no small part.
 

roonster09

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People do him a complete disservice by dismissing the mental side of his game and placing someone like Maradona ahead of him because of his technical ability.

There's so much more to being a footballer than technique and vision. Ronaldo's mental side of the game is off the charts and it's why I have him competing with Messi for the top spot and Maradona in third.
Yeah that's a very good point. Ronaldo's mentality can be matched by very few. The drive he has got is just insane.
 

Denis' cuff

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All time great that’s for sure but Eusebio was better

Surprisingly, never made the connection but similar power/speed players. Similar in their single minded approach to scoring goals. Beyond that, can never be seriously bothered with this stuff. It’s a bit like choosing your top five records/albums of all time. Certainly never saw Di Stefano in his day and only occasional bits of Pele. Since then, seen them all but change my mind every day, if I even think about it. Most of these, forwards/strikers but for me, Beckenbauer right up there every time. Never out of top five. Shame George never had the stage, consistently. Gun to head, couldn’t pick one, so... Luke Chadders.

Edit: like the tier list, esp the top two tiers, generally but Law a tier below nearly half those in the tier above is a bit ridiculous. Law was in the same category as Best and Charlton and certain not twontiers below. Below Keegan? :) don’t think Shankly would agree with that. All subjective, of course.
 
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He's the best for me, GOAT. People will disagree and say others which is fair enough. But for my own part he's the best I've ever seen, live and on television. I love the man.