Not just Messi: Capello names 3 players better than Cristiano Ronaldo

One of the greatest managers of all time, Fabio Capello, believes that while Cristiano Ronaldo must be respected as an all-time great, he is not in the top 3 greatest players of all time.

Capello insists the Portuguese forward has never reached the individual level of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario.

Capello believes there is a clear distinction between being a legendary goalscorer and a "genius."

Speaking on the Egyptian channel ON Sport’s "Hat-trick" show this week, the retired Italian coach explained why he places the other three icons in a separate category.

“Cristiano is a top goal-scorer and a fantastic athlete, but he doesn’t have the special talent of Messi, Maradona, or Ronaldo Nazario," Capello said.

"The cleverness that the others had is missing in Cristiano. He can’t be compared to those three.”

Capello, who managed the Brazilian Ronaldo during his second stint at Real Madrid in 2006, argued that while Cristiano has achieved historic success through discipline and hard work, he lacks the innate "spark of genius" possessed by the others.

The Italian's admiration for Messi is long-standing; he famously tried to sign an 18-year-old Messi for Juventus on the spot after watching him play for just 25 minutes in a 2005 friendly against his side.

Even years after retiring in 2018, legendary tactician Fabio Capello remains a polarizing figure in the football world.

His authority on greatness is hard to dispute; he famously coached Ronaldo Nazário during his tenure at Real Madrid and is one of Italy's most respected figures.

Regardless of Capello's comments, Ronaldo will remain unbothered as the pursuit of 1000 goals continues.

With 961 career goals already in the bag, he is just 39 strikes away from becoming the first athlete in the sport's history to officially reach the magical milestone.