Top 8 Players Who Have Named Cristiano Ronaldo the GOAT, Including Zidane and Gerrard

• Cristiano Ronaldo achieved two new feats after a record-breaking season
• The 39-year-old smashed the goal-scoring record for a single season
• Here are eight superstar stars who declared CR7 as the greatest of all time

Some of the biggest names in football have declared Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest of all time (GOAT).

With five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions League titles, seven league titles, the European Championship, and countless other trophies, there is little debate that Ronaldo ranks among the best players of all time.

He is only 109 goals away from reaching 1,000 career goals, and at the age of 39, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Sports Brief examines the prominent football stars who consider Ronaldo to be the GOAT.

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Players who declared Ronaldo the GOAT

Zinedine Zidane

Shortly after Ronaldo claimed his fifth Ballon d'Or, former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was quick to label the Portuguese star as the greatest of all time.

When asked in 2017 if Ronaldo was the GOAT, Zidane responded via ESPN:

"Yes. His numbers speak for themselves, both in terms of what he has accomplished and what’s still to come. There are no more words to describe Cristiano. What he does is phenomenal. A player could spend 20 years here and still not achieve what he has done."

Thomas Muller

When given the choice between Messi and Ronaldo, Muller opted for Ronaldo, citing per GOAL:

"I lean towards Ronaldo. My statistics against Messi are favourable, whereas against Ronaldo, they're not as strong."

Gary Neville

Neville and Ronaldo haven't always seen eye to eye, but the former Manchester United captain has consistently hailed CR7 as the greatest of all time.

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"Look, there's no denying Messi's extraordinary goal-scoring prowess," Neville explained to Sky Sports in 2021. "He's an exceptional player.

"[However], Ronaldo has scored probably 30 or 40 percent more goals with his weaker foot and has converted more penalties. That led me to conclude that he was more well-rounded in terms of the most crucial aspect of the game.

Roy Keane

Despite Ronaldo encountering challenges upon his return to Old Trafford, Keane consistently supported him during his punditry appearances.

During the coverage of the 2018 World Cup, Keane expressed via Football365:

"There has been a significant debate surrounding him [Ronaldo] and Messi, but in recent months, I believe he has elevated himself to a new level — Ronaldo stands in a league of his own. It's not solely about his natural talent, remarkable as it is; it's also about his unwavering dedication."

"He exhibits immense courage, he's fearless, and he's undeniably a genius. Considering his recent performances, I would place him ahead of Messi."

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Frank Lampard

The Chelsea icon once held Lionel Messi in high esteem as the greatest of all time, but he has since revised his stance.

"You know, I've always been a Messi supporter," Lampard shared with The Overlap in 2021 via Football London. "But when you look at Ronaldo's consistent output, his impressive numbers, and his ability to score crucial goals in big finals and semi-finals, I think I may lean towards him now."

Steven Gerrard

Similar to his compatriot from England, Gerrard has also altered his perspective on the GOAT debate in the past few years. The current Al-Ettifaq manager recently hailed CR7 as the greatest of all time.

"With the arrival of the 'GOAT' as we affectionately call him, Cristiano, his arrival in January was monumental. It was a massive signing, and he still had plenty to offer in terms of football. From a distance, for six months, I observed Cristiano Ronaldo's performances, watched some matches, and highlights," Gerrard remarked.

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Roberto Carlos

"In today's football discussions, the names Neymar, Messi, and Ronaldo always come up, and in my opinion, Cristiano has shown remarkable dedication to improvement," Carlos remarked to Fox Sports in 2017.

"I witness his training sessions every day, and his work ethic is truly inspiring. He strives to better himself every single day, and that sets him apart from Messi.

"Leo is undoubtedly a phenomenon, but Cristiano's commitment to training, professionalism, focus, motivation, and success gives him an edge over all others."

Kylian Mbappe

There's no denying that Ronaldo is Mbappe's role model, and the French forward has repeatedly hailed CR7 as the greatest of all time on various occasions across social media platforms.

Ronaldo's girlfriend reacts to his record-breaking feats

As football fans celebrate his latest hallmark, Ronaldo’s heartthrob, Georgina Rodriguez, shared a heartwarming message in response to his heroics, Sports Brief reports.

A frequent attendee at Al-Nassr's home games, she posted a clip on her Instagram story after the match featuring her lover standing in the dugout for his post-match interview.