Cristiano Ronaldo received another recognition the other day. According to the ratings of the British magazine FourFourTwo, the athlete became the greatest European footballer of all time. Thus, the Portuguese forward was able to surpass even such legendary players as Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane. What path has Cristiano travelled and what makes his achievements so significant for the world of football? Let's get to the bottom of it.
Reasons for Nomination
FourFourTwo magazine ranked 100 outstanding footballers, including both retired icons of world football and 11 current athletes. The analyses assessed not only career achievements, but also the contribution that players have made to the development of this popular sporting discipline. And Ronaldo has a lot to say about his merits, as he went from an unknown young talent from Sporting to a global superstar. Selfless work, perseverance and relentless pursuit of excellence made him a recognised favourite from the world of football. Today, millions of fans and footballers around the world are inspired by the example of Ronaldo, for whom there seem to be no unattainable goals.
FourFourTwo magazine's ranking is not the first example of public recognition in Cristiano Ronaldo's career. The Portuguese Football Federation was the first to recognise him as the best player of the century. Following it, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) recognised Ronaldo as the best player of the decade. Cristiano has been voted favourite for the Ballon d'Or award a record five times, which speaks to his unique skill set and ability to showcase individual skills during team competitions.
As far as club culture is concerned, Cristiano is an absolute leader here as well. He has five Champions League triumphs under his belt as proof of his ability to co-ordinate the team's actions on the pitch. So in the collection of achievements of the athlete there are such trophies as four club world championships, which emphasises his contribution to successful performances on the international stage. Ronaldo has also made his mark in national competitions, where he has led his teams to victory more than once, such as the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
Ronaldo has changed several clubs throughout his career. Successful performances with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr, have cemented his status as a global icon and has also strengthened his leadership skills as well, which has contributed to the teams success.
One of Ronaldo's most significant achievements was leading the Portuguese national team to victory at the 2016 European Championships. This triumph was the first major international title for Portugal, and Cristiano's role in this success was pivotal. Ronaldo also holds the record for the most international goals scored, making him the top scorer in national team history.
Phenomenon of Success
Along with Ronaldo, current stars of world football such as Andres Iniesta, Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappe have competed for the title of the best European footballer of all time. FourFourTwo magazine's ranking also included Toni Kroos, who has announced he will end his career after Euro 2024. In such a competitive environment, Cristiano's recognition is even more valuable and underlines his importance in both club and international football.
Ronaldo's popularity largely determines the interest in matches featuring him from users of betting sites such as Jeetbuzz app. The developers set higher odds on such events and provide interesting markets formed around the personality of the athlete. The prediction is often based not only on Ronaldo's performance statistics and personal achievements, but also on the details of his personal life. The footballer is quite a media personality outside the world of big sports, so events with his participation attract the interest of a multi-million dollar audience.
Will any of the current players be able to surpass the success of Cristiano Ronaldo? Time will tell, but the player's example is already motivating thousands of aspiring players around the world who are actively analysing his techniques and methods of performance to hone their own skills and teamwork. Keep following Cristiano Ronaldo's game and place your bets on Jeetbuzz BD!