Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning achievements have left fellow Portuguese Paulo Futre calling for “new adjectives in the dictionary”, with “legend and myth” the only words he considers to be suitable.
At 34 years of age, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to raise the bar of individual excellence.
Over the course of his remarkable career, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been the only man to match him.
Ronaldo has collected league titles in England, Spain and Italy, while also securing five Champions League crowns across spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
With Portugal, he has become a European Championship and Nations League winner, while scoring 88 goals in 158 appearances.
A standing among the all-time greats is already safely secured, with many of the records he has set expected to stand for many years to come.
When reflecting on his career to date, and looking ahead to what may still be to come, Futre admits it is nigh on impossible to find the right superlatives.
The former Portugal international, who began his own career at Sporting, told reporters of a legendary countryman: “I have already said many times that they will have to invent new adjectives in the dictionary, other fantastic words, because Cristiano Ronaldo has used all of them.
“I would stay with two words that I do not get tired of, legend and myth.
“All the rest: genius, fantastic, phenomenon, extra-terrestrial, wonderful, unique, I’m tired of saying them.”
Ronaldo’s debut campaign at Juventus in 2018-19 saw him claim a Serie A title and Supercoppa Italiana.
He netted 28 times in 43 appearances and now has 601 goals at club level to his name.
A record-setting tally of strikes in Champions League competition continues to rise, with his remarkable haul taken to 126.
Both Ronaldo and Juventus will be hoping that there are many more to come, with the Bianconeri having acquired an iconic figure in an effort to end their long wait for European glory.
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