After some backlash to his claims that he’s the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has some support in the opposition dugout.
At the start of February the Al Nassr striker put himself top of the all-time list, but has had some push back from huge names like Ronaldo Nazario and Fabio Capello.
Yet Brian Riemer, who will face Ronaldo’s Portugal with his Denmark team on Thursday, thinks they’re crazy.
Speaking to O Jogo before the match, the former Brentford assistant said: “I think I’ve been asked, curiously, in the last three or four interviews I’ve done: ‘Messi or Ronaldo?’
“For me, it’s Ronaldo, every day. I’ve always admired this guy. I think he’s not only achieved incredible numbers throughout his career – top scorer, trophies, there’s no arguing about that – but he’s also a great example for young people.
“His professionalism, the way he looks after his body, the way he’s managed to continue all these years at the highest level.
“I think the big mistake a lot of people make with Ronaldo is that they’ve been too busy writing him off in recent years and every time they try to write him off, he becomes the top scorer, like now in the Nations League. So I have the deepest respect for him.
“I think he’s still one of the scariest players you can face and I think he’s in great shape. He’s not the same as he was before, he’s a different footballer now, but that doesn’t make him any worse.
“He’s different but he’s still a great player. We have a lot of respect for him and we’re looking forward to facing him.”
Denmark and Portugal face-off in the Nations League play-offs after Portugal topped their group with four wins and two draws from six games.
Ronaldo, now aged 40, is the top scorer so far with five goals, as manager Roberto Martinez continues to rely on him despite a difficult Euro 2024.
Riemer isn’t the only Denmark representative on team Ronaldo, as key midfielder and Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand is also full of praise for his club side’s icon.
“Sporting is extremely proud of the fact that Cristiano has represented the club,” he said.
“But he doesn’t just make a difference here – he makes a difference all over the country, much more than I expected. If he were running for president, he would win.”
