Former Italy international Antonio Cassano said Cristiano Ronaldo ‘is not even in the top five’ in the history of football, amid Jorge Mendes’ Ballon d’Or comments.
The Portuguese superstar re-joined Manchester United after three seasons at Juventus this summer and agent Jorge Mendes claimed the Ballon d’Or belongs to the former Real Madrid star.
Ronaldo continues to break records at 36 and left Juventus after scoring 101 goals in 134 competitive games with the Bianconeri.
Gravina: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing a bad move for Juventus’
But Cassano is not convinced that the player with 136 goals in the Champions League has done enough to be among the top five players in history.
“Jorge Mendes says the Ballon d’Or belongs to Ronaldo? Yes, he’s the best in history,” Cassano said ironically.
“CR7 is not even in the top five, Mendes is a good one, compliments, but if we are talking about absolute level, Cristiano Ronaldo has nothing to do with it.
“For me, he is not in the top 5. I would put [Lionel] Messi, [Diego] Maradona, Pelé, [Johan] Cruijff. And then I’ll put Ronaldo, ‘Il Fenomeno’. Period.
“If we have to free someone, then [Marco] van Basten, as I don’t know [Alfredo] Di Stefano. Let’s not exaggerate.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, however, has won the Ballon d’Or five times during his career, the first in 2008 and the last in 2017.
Cassano: “Cristiano Ronaldo? Non è nella top 5 della storia, meglio il Fenomeno”https://t.co/o1qWPxel05
— Fcinter1908 (@fcin1908it) October 18, 2021
I like Cassano as a Milan and Italy supporter but on this occasion (and yes he does from time to time) he’s talking nonsense. Nothing wrong with his top 5 but for me and my top 5 Ronaldo makes the cut. Marco Van Basten if his carrer wasn’t cut short by injury would be in there too. Honestly I think it’s to hard to pick an all time top 5 cos there is probably 20 players for 5 spots.
Spot On Dazziano
The modern era is alot different – for any hockey fans it’s like Gretzky and Ovetchkin. Jordan and Lebron. The game is just so different now it cannot even be compared.
For media as big as FI to always bring cassano’s opinion which sometime biased. I just fell dissappointed. He literally attack everyone
You can only be of your time. The GOAT debate is futile, too many variables.
Well this is his list and since everyone who watches football gets to have an opinion.. I have nothing but “I don’t like your list” to offer
Man, you make a wrong list go back and arrange your list
Cristiano Ronaldo is among the top 2 greatest footballers of all time.
Well he’s right and wrong. CR7 isn’t top 5.
Its
1. Il fenomeno
2. Maradona
3. Baggio
4. Then whoever else
1.Messi
2.Maradona
3.Pele
4.Ronaldo
5. CR7
1. Maradona
2. Baggio
3. Messi
4. Brazilian Ronaldo
5. Zidane