Ronaldo Criticised by Ex-Real Madrid Star: 'He Doesn’t Understand Football
- Legendary Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo remains the only player in football history to reach the 900-goal mark
- However, former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has sparked debate by claiming the five-time Ballon d’Or winner “doesn’t know how to play football”
- Cassano scored just four goals in 28 matches for Los Blancos, a stark contrast to Ronaldo’s incredible 450 goals in 438 appearances
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Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of lacking basic football skills despite enjoying one of the most decorated careers in the sport’s history.
The Portuguese star has won five Ballon d’Or awards, second only to Lionel Messi, and collected more than 30 major trophies.
The 40-year-old's honours include five UEFA Champions League titles, league triumphs in England, Spain, and Italy, as well as the European Championship with Portugal.
Source: Getty Images
Ronaldo is also the first player to score 900 goals for club and country, the all-time Champions League top scorer, and Portugal’s leading marksman
Yet these feats have not impressed former forward Antonio Cassano, who has downplayed the significance of the legendary ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United star.
Cassano, who represented Real Madrid, AS Roma, and the Italian national team during his career, made the controversial remarks while appearing on a football podcast.
Speaking on the Viva El Fútbol podcast, as cited by Tribuna, Cassano — who represented Real Madrid between 2006 and 2008 — delivered the bold claim.
The 39-cap Italian international remarked:
"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't know how to play football. He could score 3,000 goals, and I wouldn't care."
He further emphasised:
"Players like [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Sergio] Aguero, [Karim] Benzema, [Robert] Lewandowski, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, and [Luis] Suarez understood how to connect with their teammates."
This isn't the first time Cassano has expressed criticism of the Al-Nassr star.
Back in 2022, he suggested that Ronaldo should retire due to his lack of playing time at Manchester United.
"A player like Cristiano needs to consider his own situation, and if he can’t perform anymore, then it’s time to step away. It's a standard in all sports—just retire, it’s enough! He has achieved everything, been a phenomenal player, and made a fortune, yet he’s not a starter at Manchester United now."
Cassano vs Ronaldo at Real Madrid
While Antonio Cassano managed just four goals in 28 appearances for Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo produced an astonishing 450 goals in 438 matches, according to Transfermarkt.
During his time in Spain, Ronaldo became the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a single club, hitting the milestone in only 105 games, a record recently matched by Erling Haaland after scoring against Arsenal on Sunday.
After leaving Madrid, Cassano went on to play for AC Milan and Inter Milan, but his most prolific spell came earlier with AS Roma between 2001 and 2006, which earned him his high-profile move to the Spanish giants.
Career Achievements
Cassano retired in 2018 following a year without a club, ending his career with 139 goals in club football and 10 for Italy, including three at the European Championships, per Transfermarkt.
His trophy cabinet includes La Liga, Serie A, and two Italian Super Cups, while he also represented Bari, Sampdoria, Parma, and Hellas Verona.
Notably, in 2001, at just 19 years old, he joined Roma for a then-record €30 million, the highest fee ever paid for a teenager at the time.
Source: YEN.com.gh
