The former player speaks out after Cristiano Ronaldo’s statements and names the top athlete of all time in football.
Zico chose not to engage in controversy over Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent remarks, where Ronaldo declared himself the greatest ever, but made it clear that this title belongs to Pelé. During an interview with the channel “Goat” on Tuesday (11th), the Flamengo legend didn’t hesitate to share his views on the matter.
According to the “Galinho”, while Cristiano Ronaldo has significantly grown throughout his successful career and exemplifies competitiveness, he lacks the dribbling genius. Ronaldo’s claim as the best of all time, for Zico, seems to be a personal affirmation, but he firmly believes no one has surpassed Pelé, the “King of Football”.
“If he doesn’t value himself, who will? He’s an extremely professional individual who has overcome numerous obstacles to reach his current status. He’s mastered his strengths: power, speed, and finishing. He may not have Messi’s magic, but he fought to be the best in the world. We should applaud him for that. He’s evolved a lot,” Zico stated.
“This isn’t controversial (CR7 calling himself the most complete). I don’t think there’s any player like Pelé,” the “Galinho” concluded.
CR7 Aims for 1,000 Goals
In the pursuit of his 1,000th goal, Cristiano Ronaldo made his mark during Al-Nassr’s match against Esteghlal of Iran in the Round of 16 of the Asian Champions League, bringing his total to 927 goals.
In a recent interview, the Portuguese star shared that one of his aspirations in the final stretch of his career is to reach 1,000 goals. He confidently mentioned that he could verify the accuracy of every goal he has scored.
Zico Claims Top Spot as a Playmaker
During a recent appearance on the podcast “Só Resenha,” Zico firmly positioned himself as the best playmaker that world football has ever seen. Shedding his usual modesty, the former Brazilian superstar asserted that no one has surpassed him in this particular skill, with others at best only reaching his level.
Opposed to the frequent comparisons in contemporary football, Zico emphasised his own prowess and the critical role of a player who masters playmaking in advancing a team’s offensive game.
