'Best in history' Ronaldo put to test by Messi in 'clasico'
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has made his claim. Now he has to live up to it.
Ronaldo will face Lionel Messi on Saturday for the first time since the Portugal forward declared himself "the best player in the history" of soccer after equaling the Argentine's five Ballon d'Or awards this month.
Basking in the spotlight of a glitzy ceremony under the Eiffel Tower, Ronaldo felt confident enough to put himself at the pinnacle of the sport, ahead of Messi and other greats like Pele and Diego Maradona.
"You will go and say that I have a big head, but when you're at the top, it's normal that you're criticized," he told France Football. "I am the best player in history, in both good and bad times.