"He told me...he would be the best player in the world one day" - Ex-Portugal youth star recalls conversation with 17-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Portugal youth star Bruno Simão has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo has always aimed to become the best player in the world. He claims that the Al-Nassr superstar has been strict about everything since his teenage days.

Speaking on Eu 'show' de bola, Simão recalled his conversation with the former Manchester United forward, saying that even the then-teenager was obsessed with being the best. He added that the Portuguese superstar was not going to stop until he achieved his dreams and said:

"The years passed, but I remember some words from him during an internship at Jamor, jokingly, but it wasn't a joke. He told me and [José] Semedo, who is with him at Al Nassr, that he would be the best player in the world one day. We were 17 years old at the time… The truth is, it was, countless times. It was something he wanted and did not want to stop until he achieved it. The talent he had was obvious to everyone." "He was very strict. In fact, he continues to be so, at the age of 40. That's why he managed to achieve everything he achieved. He was very demanding with himself. I didn't like to miss even a little game. At the time, I couldn't say he was going to be the best in the world, but he was already outstanding and there were no players at his level. That jumped out at anyone."

Cristiano Ronaldo has been touted as one of the best footballers ever, battling Lionel Messi for the tag for the last 15 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo was bound to be the best, claims Marlon Harewood

Former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood spoke to GOAL in December 2025, saying he knew Cristiano Ronaldo would be the best in the world. He claims that the Portuguese superstar has shown his capabilities since his first stint at Manchester United and said:

"Yeah, 100 per cent. You could see it, when I was playing against him, what he was going on to because the numbers at United, you could see that if he went on from there then he would be the person he's become. The professionalism and how you watch him, what he does, to still be playing now at 40 years of age is phenomenal." "The numbers that he is doing still, what a player. You can see the dedication that he has. He takes it quite seriously in his fitness and what he does. He's a machine. He's one of those people that if you want to look at someone, say to your son 'look at what he does and what he is capable of'."

Cristiano Ronaldo is inching closer to reaching his target of 1000 career goals, and is currently sitting at 957 goals.

Edited by Sripad