Capello ranked Ronaldo below Messi and Maradona.

Fabio Capello frankly stated that Cristiano Ronaldo is a great goalscorer, but does not possess the "genius" qualities of Messi, Maradona, or Ronaldo Nazario.

Capello ranked Ronaldo below Messi and Maradona.

In an appearance on the Egyptian television channel ON Sport's Hat-Trick program, Fabio Capello once again drew attention with his blunt stance. The former Italian coach, who once managed Real Madrid, asserted that Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be considered on the same level as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario in terms of natural talent.

“Cristiano (Ronaldo) is a fantastic goalscorer and an extraordinary player, but he doesn’t have the ‘genius’ qualities of Messi, Maradona, or Ronaldo Nazario,” Capello said.

He further emphasized that the "genius" possessed by those three legends was absent from the Portuguese superstar. "He cannot be compared to those three," the Italian strategist concluded.

Capello's statement immediately reignited the never-ending debate about the greatest players in history. Messi has long been compared to Maradona in Argentine football. Even after winning the World Cup, many still believe that Messi has not yet reached the iconic status of his legendary compatriot.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is often excluded from this debate regarding the aspect of "genius," despite his undeniable achievements.

At 41, Cristiano still maintains high ambitions. He is aiming for the milestone of 1,000 career goals and harbors hopes of conquering the World Cup, a tournament that may be his last appearance.

Despite being ranked below Messi, Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario in terms of natural talent according to Capello's assessment, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most influential and accomplished players in modern football history.

Al Nassr fans pay tribute to Ronaldo. In the early hours of February 7th, Al Nassr fans collectively expressed their support for Cristiano Ronaldo in their 2-0 victory against Al Ittihad in Round 21 of the Saudi Pro League 2025/26.

Source: https://znews.vn/capello-xep-ronaldo-duoi-messi-va-maradona-post1627261.html