Cristiano Ronaldo says he is the best footballer in the world and comparable with the game’s all-time greats.
In an interview with the BBC sports editor Dan Roan, the Real Madrid forward said he had reached a level from where it is “not easy to improve”.
The Portuguese, 30, is a three-time world footballer of the year, and Real’s all-time leading goal scorer.
He said: “I don’t need to say ‘I’m in the history of football, I’m a legend’. The numbers say everything.”
Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United in 2009 for £80m, said he had reached an “unbelievable” level on the pitch over the “last eight years” and wants to continue playing for another five or six seasons.
His career record stands at 504 goals in 760 appearances.
“To improve more it’s very tough. I just want to maintain because this is I think the most difficult part for a football player,” said Ronaldo, who is also the Champions League’s top scorer with 82 goals.
“In my mind, I’m always the best. I don’t care what people think, what they say. In my mind, not just this year but always, I’m always the best,” he added.
Ronaldo was asked about comparisons with Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, a four-time world player of the year with 418 goals in 492 club appearances.
He said: “It’s opinions, I respect the opinions. Maybe in your opinion Messi is better than me, but in my mind I am better than him. So it’s simple.”
Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m in 2003, scoring 118 goals for the club in 292 appearances.
Since moving to Madrid, where he is under contract until 2018, he has scored 326 goals in 314 matches.
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