“I was better than Cristiano Ronaldo and everyone knows that” - Ex-Sporting star makes emphatic claim on being more talented
Former Chelsea winger Fabio Paim has insisted that he was more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo during his youth career at Sporting CP. However, he also acknowledged that talent wasn't everything, which is why Ronaldo was able to achieve greatness in his storied career.
Paim was regarded as one of the best up-and-coming young talents in Portugal during his time at the Sporting CP youth academy between 1997 and 2007. This was evident when Cristiano Ronaldo said the following upon his switch to Manchester United in 2003 (via Daily Star):
"If you think I'm good just wait until you see Fabio Paim."
Despite being touted to be a future superstar, Paim failed to establish himself at any club in his senior career. He played for a total of 19 clubs, including a four-month loan stint at Chelsea in 2008, but failed to make a single appearance for the senior team. Additionally, he was unable to earn a single cap for the Portugal national team.
Even though his career paled in comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo, Paim recently spoke on the 39-year-old, where he said (via The Sun):
"He grew up with me, we spent a long time together. I was Sporting's number one at that time. Cristiano started to be Cristiano when he went to Manchester. Even then, nobody knew he would become what he is today.
"Today Cristiano is the king, Paim is nobody. And people say 'oh, he's a liar, he wasn't better'. But the truth is that I was better than him and everyone knows that. I had more talent."
He added:
"But talent is nothing, talent is just a little bit. If you don't have the rest, you'll be nobody."
Paim was only able to win one trophy in his career - the Segunda Liga - during the 2007-08 season. The 36-year-old retired in 2018, having last played for the reserves of Portuguese side Leixoes S.C.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo combined talent with incredible work-rate on and off the field. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has established himself as one of the greatest to ever do it, garnering 907 goals and 255 assists in 1247 appearances across competitions for club and country.
"We're not here to idolize them, we're here to beat them” - Ivan Toney responds when asked about facing competition from Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Pro League
Former Brentford forward Ivan Toney has claimed he is concentrating on himself and is focused on beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr this season in the Saudi Pro League. The England international joined Al-Ahli over the summer for a reported fee of £40 million until the summer of 2028.
Toney stated (via @TheNassrZone):
“I don't watch what other people are doing. Obviously we know Ronaldo is a top player but I'll concentrate on myself and do what I can do best. It's all good coming up against these players, but we're not here to idolise them, we're here to beat them.”
Al-Nassr faced off against Toney's Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League this season on September 13 where they played out a 1-1 draw. The latter are struggling in eighth place in the league table with 11 points from eight games, seven points behind third-placed Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo has also had a better season than Ivan Toney to date. The former has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances across competitions. In comparison, Toney has garnered four goals and two assists in 10 appearances in total.