Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most decorated footballers of all time. At 40, Portuguese superstar Ronaldo is still playing at an impressive level and is aiming for a historic milestone: 1,000 goals.

He and Lionel Messi have been part of a heated debate for years, with fans divided over who is the better footballer.

For the first time in history, Ronaldo himself admitted that people might like Messi better.

Sharing in an interview with Spanish media channel LaSexta TV, Ronaldo said: “People can like Messi, Maradona or Pele more than me and I respect that. But I am the most complete. I am the best player in the history of football. I have not seen anyone better than me in the history of football and I speak the truth from my heart.”

The Portuguese superstar also said that he and Messi have never had a “bad relationship” during the past 15 years, when they dominated world football.

Ronaldo said: “I never had a bad relationship with Messi. We shared awards together and always got along. I remember I used to translate English for Messi and it was funny. There were times when he wanted to win everything and so did I. It was a healthy fight.”

When asked if he was the best player in history, Ronaldo continued to emphasize his goalscoring ability. He said: “There are some absurd things. What does a goalscorer mean? It’s the one who puts the ball in the net. I think I’m the most complete player in the history of football. I’m good with my head, I’m good at free kicks, I score with my left foot, my right foot, I’m strong.”