Jamie Carragher has expressed his admiration for Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo as the 37-year-old reaches a juncture in his career following his Old Trafford exit.
The former Liverpool defender hasn't been shy in his criticism of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner since his return to the Premier League and was famously snubbed by Ronaldo during Sky Sports coverage.
However, Carragher has offered sympathy to the now-free agent after a career-long battle with Lionel Messi. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: "I'm no huge Ronaldo fan and that's pretty obvious and that's not for his football ability.
"It's actually (that) I've got that much admiration for him and his mental strength, I just think it's unbelievable, one of the strongest mentally because he's had that thing his whole for how good he is, Messi's on his shoulder.
"It's always he could never sit back and go 'I'm the best' and relax, it's constant 'you're not as good as Messi', it splits people but I'd say the majority of people would side with Messi - I would imagine.
"I think to always have that and to always prove people wrong, it's almost like it doesn't feel like he's not rated - although he's one of the best of all time - and I can't help but admire that drive, because I've got that drive just not that ability that he's got.
"It's sad for him the way people are speaking about Messi towards the end of his career and Ronaldo - it's completely different. It's nothing to do with what's going on on the pitch, it's that idea that Ronaldo was about himself, his ego whereas Messi is painted as this saint figure.
"People are talking about wanting Messi to win the World Cup, with Ronaldo it's like he's not the same player but who is the same player at 37? But he's getting criticised as a player at 37, 38 when really he should be getting lauded but the way he comes across, he storms off the pitch, storms down the tunnel, he's giving that interview, people are gunning for him now."