- Ronaldo is the only player in the history of football to have reached 900 goals
- A former Real Madrid star believes Ronaldo’s “only goal” is to score
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A former Real Madrid striker has launched a scathing attack on Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting the 39-year-old is too selfish.
Ronaldo became the first player in the history of the sport to reach 900 goals earlier this month when he scored for Portugal against Croatia.
The Portuguese star has been hailed by many as one of the most effective goalscorers in the history of the game, and continued his exploits in front of goal well into his 40s.
However, Antonio Cassano does not share the same opinion and while speaking on the Viva El Futbol podcast, the Italian strangely criticised Ronaldo despite his historic achievement.
“Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t know how to play football,” Cassano said. “He could score 3,000 goals, I don’t give a shit.”
Antonio Cassano attacked Cristiano’s mentality when speaking on the Viva El Futbol podcast
Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal to make history for Portugal against Croatia this month
‘Higuaín, Agüero, Benzema, Lewandowski, Ibrahimovic and Suárez knew how to connect with the team.
‘They knew how to do many things, unlike Ronaldo, whose only goal was always to score.’
This is not the first time that Cassano has messed with CR7. In 2022, the former Los Blancos striker went so far as to say that it was time for Ronaldo to hang up his boots, while playing for Manchester United.
“A guy like Cristiano has to think about himself and if he can’t do it anymore, he has to stop,” Cassano said. “It’s a rule in all sports. Retire, that’s enough!”
‘He’s won everything, he’s been a phenomenon, he’s made a lot of money and now he’s not a starter at Manchester United.’
Cassano followed his own advice in 2017 and left the sport after 18 years in Spain and Italy.
The player, now 42, began his career at Italian club Bari before making a name for himself during a five-year spell at Serie A side Roma.
Cassano only managed four goals in his two years at Real Madrid, between 2006 and 2008.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo scored at a rate of more than a goal per game in Madrid, netting 450 goals.
His exploits for ‘I Giallorossi’ earned him a big-money move to Real Madrid, but he only scored four goals in 29 appearances over two years in the Spanish capital before being sent back to his homeland for good.
Compare that to Ronaldo, who scored at a rate of more than a goal per game for Madrid, netting 450 goals in 438 games.
Cassano and Ronaldo never crossed paths at Los Blancos, with the former Italy international leaving on loan for Sampdoria in 2007, before a permanent move a year later, while the now Al-Nassr striker joined the Spanish giants in 2009.
