Retired Italian tactician Fabio Capello has sparked a fresh debate by claiming that Cristiano Ronaldo lacks the innate “genius” possessed by Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazário. During a featured appearance on the Egyptian program Hat-trick on ON Sport, the former Real Madrid and England manager drew a sharp distinction between elite athleticism and pure footballing artistry. While Capello acknowledged the 41-year-old’s legendary status as a prolific scorer, he insisted that the Portuguese icon occupies a different tier than the sport’s most naturally gifted creators.
Capello argues that while the Al-Nassr captain has achieved historic success through unparalleled discipline, he does not share the same “cleverness” that defined the careers of Messi or Maradona. The former coach, who managed the Brazilian Ronaldo during his second tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu, believes these specific icons brought a unique spark to the pitch that transcends standard physical excellence.
“Cristiano is a top goal-scorer and a fantastic athlete, but he doesn’t have the special talent of Messi, Maradona, or Ronaldo Nazario. The cleverness that the others had is missing in Cristiano. He can’t be compared to those three,” he said via Kooora.com.
The veteran manager’s admiration for the “genius” category stems from decades of firsthand experience at the highest level of European football. Capello famously attempted to secure an 18-year-old Lionel Messi for Juventus on a loan deal immediately after watching the teenager dominate for just 25 minutes during a pre-season friendly. Although he recognizes the immense legacy of the Portuguese forward, Capello maintains that sheer goal tallies—even as Ronaldo approaches the 1,000-goal mark—cannot replicate the instinctive brilliance of the other three legends.
Despite these criticisms of his “genius” status, the Portugal captain continues to challenge the limits of age and performance in the Saudi Pro League. Currently sitting at 961 official career goals, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains just 39 strikes away from becoming the first male athlete to reach the four-digit milestone in competitive football. While Ronaldo frequently asserts his own claim as the greatest of all time, Capello’s perspective suggests that for many tactical purists, the GOAT debate remains centered on technical inspiration rather than statistical records.
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