Benfica legend Eusebio has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to
one day take over the title of Portugal’s greatest ever
player.
Eusebio, widely regarded as one of the finest
footballers to ever grace the game, scored 727 goals in 715 matches
for Benfica. He guided the Lisbon team to four European Cup finals
between 1962 and 1968 and captained his country to the semi-finals
of the 1966 World Cup, scoring nine goals in the tournament.
It’s a phenomenal record, and yet the 1965 European Footballer of
the Year believes
United winger Ronaldo has the potential to go even better.
“Yes, [he could take my crown],” Eusebio told FourFourTwo
magazine.
“And the way he’s going at the moment he can become not only the
best footballer in Portugal, but also the best in the world.”
Indeed, Eusebio is tipping Ronaldo to win the coveted FIFA World
Player of the Year prize for 2008.
“He might not become the best player of all time, but I think
within a short space of time Ronaldo will be recognised as the best
footballer in the world. He was third last time, which shouldn’t be
sniffed at. But he’s got every chance of winning the trophy very
soon.”
Those chances will improve further should Ronaldo help engineer a
Portugal victory over pre-tournament favourites Germany in the Euro
2008 quarter-finals.