For the first time ever, manager Carlo Ancelotti has publicly declared that his former star Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest footballer in history.
Ronaldo ignited controversy when he claimed to be the most complete player of all time during an interview with Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre published on February 4. Later that same evening, at a press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey quarterfinal clash against Leganés, Ancelotti was asked a similar question.
“Exactly, Ronaldo is the best in history,” the Italian coach stated. “He has left an indelible mark on an era. Ronaldo also contributed enormously to my career at Real Madrid with his goals—they helped me maintain my composure on the touchline.”
During his time under Ancelotti at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015, Ronaldo scored an astonishing 112 goals in just 101 matches, averaging 1.1 goals per game—the best scoring rate among the 19 managers he has played under. In terms of appearances, his 101 games under Ancelotti rank just after Alex Ferguson (292 matches), José Mourinho (164), and Zinedine Zidane (114). Yet, in another list ranking players with the most appearances under Ancelotti, Ronaldo only comes in 42nd—well behind the likes of Filippo Inzaghi (332 matches), Andrea Pirlo (327), Clarence Seedorf (325), and Gennaro Gattuso (323).
Now 65 years old, Carlo Ancelotti has worked with a veritable who’s who of football legends—names such as Kaká, Luka Modrić, Paolo Maldini, Karim Benzema, Andriy Shevchenko, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Thierry Henry, and Zinedine Zidane. Among these illustrious players, eight have won the Ballon d’Or, a feat that few managers can boast.
Ancelotti’s own playing career, spanning from 1976 to 1992 as a midfielder for Parma, Roma, and Milan, saw him win two European Cup Winners’ Cups. However, his coaching career has been even more illustrious, marked by a record five Champions League titles. He is also the only manager to have led teams to domestic league titles in all five of Europe’s top leagues.
Over the course of his career, Ancelotti has faced off against some of the greatest talents. He had the chance to compete against Diego Maradona on Italian soil, and as a coach, he has frequently squared off against Barcelona teams featuring Lionel Messi. Following Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup, Ancelotti made it clear that he would never label Messi as the “greatest player in history.”