Jose Mourinho:
“The Portugal players are full of selfish and overrated players. How can you claim to have three of the best midfielders in the world and not create a single goal-scoring opportunity in the whole 90 minutes? Ronaldo made several runs inside the box but received no passes. He was all alone inside the 18-yard box, yet no crosses or passes reached him. I think Ronaldo’s teammates were the reason they didn’t progress to the quarter-finals.”
🗣️Erling Haaland:
“If there’s one player I should be grateful to, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo. He inspired me to become the player I am today. He’s my football idol and has helped me in so many ways. I’m happy to be learning a lot from him.
I wish him success against Spain because it would be a dream to play against him at this World Cup, especially considering this is the last World Cup of his career. He’s the greatest of all time in this sport.”
🚨 Reporter asks Vinícius Júnior who the best footballer is between Neymar Jr., Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo:
🗣️ Reporter: “Vinícius, you’ve played with Neymar for Brazil and you’ve watched both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate football for years. Who do you think is the best footballer among the three?”
🗣️ Vinícius Júnior: “First of all, it’s an honour to even mention those names together. Neymar is one of the most talented players Brazil has ever produced. Messi is one of the greatest talents football has ever seen. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever had.”
“But if you’re asking me to choose one, I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.”
🗣️ Reporter: “Why Cristiano?”
🗣️ Vinícius Júnior: “Because when I look at football, I don’t just look at talent. I look at the complete picture.”
“Cristiano proved himself everywhere. England, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Different leagues, different teammates, different coaches and different generations, but the result was always the same — goals, trophies and records.”
“His mentality is something I’ve never seen before. Most players are satisfied after winning one Ballon d’Or or one Champions League. Cristiano kept wanting more.”
“He turned hard work into an art form. Every young player in football has looked at Cristiano Ronaldo and learned something from him.”
“What impresses me most is the longevity. For more than twenty years he has remained at the highest level while football constantly changed around him.”
“People talk about talent, but discipline, sacrifice and consistency are talents too. Cristiano mastered all of them.”
“Neymar inspired a generation in Brazil. Messi inspired a generation in Argentina. Cristiano inspired the entire football world.”
“That is why, for me, Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest footballer ever”.
{@beINSPORTS }
🚨🚨🎙️ Roy Keane: "You’ll NEVER hear Argentina players disrespect Messi... Neves needs to learn respect"
🎙️ Reporter:
“Roy, what did you make of Joao Neves saying Ronaldo is ‘just another player’ for Portugal?”
🗣️ Roy Keane:
“Listen, I’ve had enough of this. The kid’s 19. He’s played what, 15 games for his country? And he’s talking like Ronaldo’s some squad player.
‘He’s not different from the others’? Are you kidding me? This is Cristiano Ronaldo. Five Ballon d’Ors. Over 200 caps. Goals at every World Cup.
And you’ll NEVER see any Argentina players say that about Messi. NEVER. Those boys respect him so much. They’ll run through walls. They do everything possible to see him win with their last drop of blood.
That’s what a real team does for a legend.
He carried Portugal before Neves was even born. Before he could kick a ball.
You show respect to legends. You don’t sit there at a World Cup press conference and say he’s ‘just here to help like everyone else’.
He IS different. The standards, the mentality, the winning — that’s Ronaldo.
If Neves wants to be great, he should be watching Ronaldo, not dismissing him. Otherwise he’ll be another kid who talked too much and won nothing.”
{@beINSPORTS }
🚨🎙️Toni Kroos on João Neves' reported comments:🚨🔴
"If João Neves truly said there is no difference between himself and Cristiano Ronaldo, then he owes Ronaldo, the football world, and even himself an explanation.
I have nothing against confidence. Every top player needs confidence to succeed at the highest level. But there is a very thin line between confidence and complete disrespect. Comparing yourself to Cristiano Ronaldo when you have not achieved even a fraction of what he has achieved is simply arrogance.
Cristiano Ronaldo has spent more than two decades proving himself against the best teams, the best defenders, and the best players in every competition imaginable. He has won league titles in multiple countries, Champions Leagues, international trophies, Ballons d'Or, and scored goals at a level football has rarely seen before.
João Neves is a talented young player, but talent alone does not put you in the same conversation as Cristiano Ronaldo. One good season, a few good performances, or a promising future does not erase twenty years of excellence and sacrifice.
What exactly is the comparison here? Records? Trophies? Goals? Leadership? Longevity? Influence on the game? In every category, the gap is enormous.
Young players today should be learning from legends, not trying to place themselves beside them before they have earned that right. Respect is one of the most important values in football, and statements like this show a lack of understanding of what Ronaldo has done for the sport.
If those comments are real, then João Neves should quickly come out and clarify them because there is a huge difference between being a talented footballer and being Cristiano Ronaldo. Football has seen many great young players come and go, but very few have reached the level of Ronaldo.
You don't become Cristiano Ronaldo by talking. You become Cristiano Ronaldo by proving it every single season for twenty years. Until then, there is a difference — and a very big one."