Javier Mascherano Challenges Cristiano Ronaldo's Claim As Greatest Footballer Of All Time

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Javier Mascherano has expressed disagreement with Cristiano Ronaldo's claim of being the most complete player in history. Ronaldo, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday, made this statement during an interview with El Chiringuito. He acknowledged that some might prefer Lionel Messi, Pele, or Diego Maradona but insisted that statistics support his claim.

Ronaldo holds the record as the all-time leading goalscorer in men's football, with 923 goals to his name. Additionally, he has scored 135 international goals for Portugal. Throughout his career, he has maintained an average of over 40 goals per year. Despite these achievements, debates about the greatest footballer often compare him to Lionel Messi.

Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi and now head coach at Inter Miami, shared his thoughts on Ronaldo's statement. While he respects Ronaldo, Mascherano mentioned that he has his own views on who might be the best player ever. "I have a lot of respect for Cristiano and I do not have to analyse his opinions," Mascherano stated during a press conference. "It is what he thinks. But I have my own thoughts [on the best player ever] and it is not that."

The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi is well-documented, especially from their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Messi has scored 850 career goals, adding fuel to discussions about who reigns supreme in football history.