'A Player More Dangerous Than Cristiano Ronaldo': When Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti Explained

• Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti, once named a player more dangerous than Cristiano Ronaldo
• Ronaldo is considered by many to be the greatest goal-scorer to have graced football as a sport
• The Al-Nassr star averaged 1.1 goals per game under Ancelotti during their time at Los Blancos

Cristiano Ronaldo stands as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport, if not the very best.

Despite his advanced age of 39, Ronaldo continues to perform at an exceptional level, showcasing a remarkable longevity reminiscent of fine wine.

Throughout his illustrious career, which began at Sporting Lisbon and saw him flourish at Manchester United before becoming a prolific scorer at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has amassed over 700 club goals.

After bidding farewell to his second stint with the Red Devils, the veteran forward took a unique path, joining Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Nassr, where he has further demonstrated his prowess on the pitch.

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His presence in Saudi Arabia has not only attracted significant attention to the league but has also resulted in a surge of high-profile footballers making similar moves.

In 2023, Ronaldo's goal-scoring prowess was on full display as he netted 54 goals, outshining prominent figures like Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe.

Carrying his stellar form into the current year, Ronaldo faces the challenge of overturning a one-nil deficit in Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League quarter-final clash against Al Ain, with the odds stacked against the Knights of Najd.

However, history suggests that CR7 thrives under pressure, with memorable comeback performances such as the Wolfsburg game in 2016 and La Remontada against Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Confident in his abilities, the Portugal captain issued a bold declaration that his Middle Eastern team would emerge victorious in the second leg against the Emiratis, as noted by Sports Brief.

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Ancelotti names player more dangerous than CR7

Adding weight to Ronaldo's unwavering confidence is a notable observation from his former coach at Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, who once remarked that Ronaldo becomes even more dangerous after a scoreless outing.

"There is a player more dangerous than Cristiano Ronaldo, its the Cristiano Ronaldo that didn't score in the previous match," he said, as quoted by CristianoXtra on X.

Under Ancelotti in the Spanish capital, the five-time Ballon d'Or award winner netted an impressive 112 goals and contributed 47 assists in 101 matches, per Transfermarkt.

Ronaldo names Messi, 1 other as GOAT

Meanwhile, the Portuguese star and his famed rival have frequently shown mutual admiration and respect whenever any comparisons arise.

In one instance, Ronaldo referenced Lionel Messi and another who he regards as the greatest he ever witnessed, as Sports Brief reported.

During a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, the host probed CR7 about the best player he had ever seen in action, besides himself.