Santillana: ''Ronaldo is more complete than Messi''

Real Madrid legend Santillana, who enjoyed 17 consecutive seasons wearing the Santiago Bernabeu outfit and scored more than 150 goals for the merengues, believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is a more complete football player than Messi.

When talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, the 59-year-old Spaniard stated that there is no comparison between the Portuguese and Lionel Messi, and not even to himself who was one of the greatest talented players of his time, nor to Hugo Sánchez, another Real Madrid legend, as he believes that Ronaldo is the best player.

"Ronaldo has physical attributes which other strikers do not possess. Hugo Sanchez and I, for example, we were great finishers, but we depended on our team-mates to score," he told O Jogo, praising the Portugal international's versatility and adaptability skills.

"Ronaldo, because of his power and speed, he can score goals alone. He can play 50 metres away from goal, and it will not stop him from scoring. He is an extraordinary athlete, with enviable physical capacities, which allow him to jump high and make use of his great heading skills."

Furthermore, Santillana did not hesitate to declare that Ronaldo "is more complete than Messi, although I think that the Argentine is more skilled and has greater ball control when it is played fast."

"Messi is also a pure genius. Still, I think Ronaldo is more of a goalscorer."

Santillana is a legend for the Santiago Bernabeu side, alongside other big names such as Di Stéfano. the former Spain international also considers that the 26-year-old Portuguese attacker is amongst the best in the history of the merengues.

"Ronaldo is an extraordinary player, he has been scoring goals at an impressive rhythm since he arrived at the club. The only thing he is missing is winning more titles, which is the most important thing at a club like Real Madrid," he said.

"At the end of a season, he may have similar or even superior stats to Messi, but in the end the Argentine gets the titles, like the Champions League, La Liga..."

"Cristiano also has to win collective titles," Santillana concluded.

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro  Portugal 1985-02-05 (28 years) Forward 78 kg 185 cm See player profile>

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