Ronaldo says it outright: I am the greatest in history

The numbers speak for themselves

Cristiano Ronaldo reckons he is the greatest footballer in history, and the Portugal captain feels his goalscoring record still doesn't get the credit it deserves.

The Athletic published excerpts from Ronaldo's interview with CNN, in which the Portuguese star said: "People do not give the level I produce and my goals the credit they deserve."

Numbers back him up. The Al Nassr striker has scored 980 goals in 1,337 professional matches for his clubs and Portugal.

Asked whether he was aiming to reach the 1,000-goal mark, Ronaldo replied: "Things have to happen naturally. If I score 920 goals, or 925, or 930, the best player in history is me, and that's the end of it."

He stressed: "The numbers speak for themselves. If I reach that figure, meaning a thousand goals, it would be something amazing and a target I am working towards, but I don't think about the long term."

Pressed again on his long-term future, Ronaldo said: "I don't know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe I'll wake up one day and lose my motivation, and no longer want to play. I really don't know what might happen."