Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the "eternal" talents of football during a touching tribute to Pele.
The Brazilian legend passed away on Thursday evening. Those across the football world united to pay tribute to the 82-year-old with United's Brazilian stars Casemiro, Antony and Fred sending poignant messages.
During City's press conference ahead of their clash with Everton, Guardiola paid tribute to Pele and named several players who he felt transcended the sport, including Ronaldo. He told reporters: "I never pretend to be Pele, honestly.
"I never saw him play, I spoke with people who said he was the greatest for them. What he has done, not just winning three World Cups, the goals and he was a new thing when he came up.
"I was not born when he was playing. It's like a good movie, the legacy that we're still talking about him, about a good movie, a good book, because he was so good.
"Pele, [Diego] Maradona, [Johan] Cruyff, [Lionel] Messi, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Cristiano Ronaldo, these players will be eternal. They have done many things for many years, these types of players make our business, our job, a better place.
"What he produced for the feeling for the people. We have seen the World Cup, one team can produce for a country, it's incredible.
"It's not another event can produce this emotion. This part of exceptional players can produce the emotion for the players."
Ronaldo left Old Trafford in November following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan. During the conversation, the 37-year-old openly criticised the club, Erik ten Hag, the Glazers and some of his old teammates who had spoken out against him.
The Portugal international was the only free agent at the World Cup in Qatar and would be eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Morocco.
libeknopy
208
I bet am a Messi fan till the end, but to be honest the hate thrown at Ronaldo is just not fair, all because he is outspoken, he listen to himself alone, they say he is arrogant, that is his style for God sake... he is among the 1 top 10, he is a GOAT if people like to accept it or not because his statistics doesn't affect messi for crying out loud
epjo
171
PELE we will miss you forever RIP LEGEND
debknyz
96
CR7 may not be the goat but we can’t deny what he is done in football, he definitely has earned his place among the top ten to have ever played the game.
FaithEvans
86
Agenda apart, you can't love football and hate Cristiano Ronaldo. He's one of the best. Arguably the best goalscorer the sport has ever seen. Thanks to Pele for leading the way for goalscorers, and we hail the artistry of Diego Maradona, the leadership of Benkenbauer. The inventions of Cruyff. And the embodiment of all of their greatness, in Lionel Messi.
Vibabiktyz
65
Ronaldo is one of the best who contributed to football fans in 21th nd 22th century
ORUVAL3
60
santuan
22
Ronaldo couldn't wish messi well after winning the world cup.
Graphics1000
20
We have lost two legends 🥺💔
buublmrtyz
10
CR7 may not be the goat but we can’t deny what he is done in football, he definitely has earned his place among the top ten to have ever played the game.
When we talk about best players we talk about about numbers, statistics... If you say Christiano is only a goal scorer then he is the best, the reason why Argentina won the world cup its simply because they scored more goals than their opponents.... If you saying goals ain't important then you don't know football, for a team to win, they have to score goals.... Which country has ever won the world cup by simply playing a beautiful game without scoring goals, what are you talking about? Which club has ever won the league title or champions league simply by displaying a beautiful game, that does not count, at the end of the day its the results that matters the most, goals!!!!!!!