Cristiano Ronaldo: Only player CR7 admitted is better than him recalls watching Al Nassr star through prison window

Ronaldo and Fabio were childhood friends in Portugal but as a result of his fame, wealth, and partying lifestyle, the players' career fell into obscurity.

After that, things reached their lowest point and Paim was sentenced to a year in the notorious Caxias prison.

The Portuguese now claimed that he watched Ronaldo practising with Portugal through the prison window.

Paim's brilliant potential seemed destined to elevate him beyond fellow Sporting Academy prodigy and three years his senior Ronaldo. 

The Portuguese was hyped by Ronaldo when he signed for Manchester United in 2003, he said, "If you think I'm good, wait until you see Fabio Paim."

However, the player was unable to show his potential due to his extravagant lifestyle which made him end up in prison. 

Speaking to the Sun, Paim said, “I was really special. I must be humble but this is the truth.

“Unfortunately back then there was not Instagram or Facebook, nothing was recorded like nowadays but I strongly and honestly believe that until today there was no other like me with the same quality I had.

“Cristiano, for all his effort and hard work, went to a level he deserves. But when I was playing, if I had the same effort and commitment, I would be better than him.

“If I speak about technique, I was better. I was a small Ronaldinho. But as we can see, it's not the technique that leads us to wherever.

“But yes at that time I was better than Cristiano. I believe he should give me one of his Ballons d'Or!” 

When asked if he would have won the Ballon d'Or and been considered the best in the world technically, Paim responded, “Yes, no doubt.”

Paim failed to make even one competitive first-team appearance for Sporting, despite Ronaldo winning several awards, including winning the Euro 2016 with Portugal.

The Portuguese international joined Chelsea on loan in 2008 and was with his National teammates Deco and Ricardo Carvalho.

Paim said that he was "overwhelmed" by wealth as he wasted his enormous on cars, women, drinks, and parties since he had never been taught how to manage his money.

Paim explained as reported by the Sun, “Unfortunately for me, I was born with talent. As I was earning lots of money, I got the illusion I didn't need the effort. It is impossible for a person like me to be a millionaire. 

“I regret some of my choices. Now I'm at a different age so can see the picture differently. The talent was there but my mind wasn't. My head was on women and partying, everywhere else apart from football.

“I played some matches but my body was not in its best shape and didn’t respond to what people were demanding from me because if I could, I would have been at Barcelona or Real Madrid.”

Meanwhile, Paim's life took a turn for the worse in 2019 when he was arrested for having 5g of cocaine on him.

He was imprisoned on drug trafficking charges for a year close to the Cidade do Futebol headquarters of the Portuguese FA before the case was dropped and was released.