Cristiano Ronaldo to CNN: I’m better than Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he thinks he is a better player than Lionel Messi, and Real Madrid is a better team than their fierce rivals, Barcelona. In an exclusive international television interview on CNN International’s ‘World Sport’, the Real Madrid and Portugal star tells CNN’s Pedro Pinto “Some people say I’m better, other people say it’s him, but at the end of the day they’re going to decide who is the best player at the moment, which I think is me.”
He adds that his penalty miss against Bayern in the Champions League semi final was “one of the worst days” of his career thus far and that he sees this Saturday’s final as too close to call.
Full transcript after the jump.
CNN must be credited for any use of this material.
Pedro Pinto, CNN
This season has been fantastic for you and for Real Madrid, record breaking 100 points. You scored 46 in the league, over 60 in all competitions; how great was this season for you and what was your high point?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid midfielder
My high point is to win the title here in Madrid, La Liga. Was my first time, so I was so happy because it’s my best moment here in Madrid, the most important trophy. In terms of individual, it was great for me, the goals that I scored, to break my own record…to do 100 points in the Spanish league which is a record too. It’s phenomenal. I think it’s hard to have a better year than this one. For me this is the most difficult league in the world. To compete with Barcelona, as everyone knows is very complicated and we beat them. 9 points ahead…so it was an amazing year.
PP
People always say Barcelona play the best football on the planet…do you think you’ve proven that you’re better than them and do you think you get enough credit for the football you play?
CR
Well, the points speak for themselves, so 9 points separated Madrid and Barcelona; it’s a lot here in Spain. We played better than them this year, I’m sure about that. I remember we went there one month ago and we won 2-1…nobody can do that, it’s very difficult so we deserve to win the league. We are better than them at the moment, but we have to respect them because they are a great team too.
PP
Jose Mourinho came here and proved that he could conquer the Spanish league…tell me about Jose as a person and a manager.
CR
As a person, he’s a humble guy…he’s very simple. We joke all the time, with funny stories all the time. It’s great…in terms of coaching, he’s completely different. He’s so serious, so professional. This is why he wins the titles that he won. Because for me, not just because I work with him, but he’s the best because of what he does: the tactics, everything around the players, the motivation… He won in every country that he’s passed, so I think that’s great.
PP
I want you to be honest with me because every year your numbers keep going up, every year Leo Messi’s numbers keep going up…how tired of you of being compared with Messi every day?
CR
Well, sometimes it makes me tired…for him too because they compare us together all the time. You cannot compare a Ferrari with a Porsche because it’s a different engine. You cannot compare them. He does the best things for Barcelona, I do the best things for Madrid, so the numbers…everyone says, “It’s incredible.” Just for him and for me because we beat our own record, so it’s amazing. I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high. This is why Madrid and Barcelona are the best teams in the world because everyone pushes each other.
PP
So are you better than him this season?
CR
It’s not about who is better…I just don’t like to be compared with anybody. Some people say I’m better, other people say it’s him, but at the end of the day, they’re going to decide who is the best player at the moment, which I think is me (laughs).
PP
The Champions League final is coming up. Who do you think is going to win?
CR
It’s difficult…maybe most people think that Bayern is going to win easily. I don’t think so. Don’t forget that Chelsea beat Barcelona which is very very tough. It will be an interesting game. I don’t know which team is going to win. I’m not going to bet on anything because Chelsea is very strong. They defend well, they have a good counterattack. Bayern is a fantastic team too, so it will be a good game.
PP
Have you got over the penalty you missed against Bayern? Was that tough?
CR
It’s always tough when you lose something, when you lose on penalties. But I’m not really worried about that because if I didn’t score the two goals most of the players aren’t going to shoot the penalties, so I have to appreciate what I did in the Champions League, what I did for the club… but to be honest, it was one of the worst days in my career so far.
END