Ronaldo can emulate Pele and Maradona, says FergusonPortuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo has the potential to become as great a player as Pele or Diego Maradona, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Saturday.
"The expectations are always so high with Cristiano because of his rise in the last two or three years since we got him as a young kid," Ferguson told a news conference on the eve of his side's Club World Cup final against Ecuador's LDU .
"He scored 42 goals last season -- his goal-scoring is the one area which for a wide player Cristiano is absolutely superb.
"Pele scored in a World Cup final as a 17-year-old and Maradona played for his country at 17. Cristiano was 18 so the signs are the same."
Ferguson's lavish praise comes during the latest war of words between United and Spanish giants Real Madrid over the future of the Ballon d'Or winner.
"His ability with two feet is tremendous," purred Ferguson. "You would never associate it with a Portuguese winger but he is absolutely magnificent in the air.
"He's 23 now and still a very young lad but there's a lot of things in his favour to go on and prove himself as a legend."
Ronaldo was among the scorers in United's 5-3 win over Japan's Gamba Osaka in Thursday's Club World Cup semi-final but was overshadowed by two goals from substitute Wayne Rooney.
SAME DESIRE
"Cristiano still has to recapture his goal-scoring form of last season but he still has the same desire to have the ball all the time," said Ferguson.
"Very few wingers can have such an influence on a game as Cristiano."
http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKT26622720081220?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0Ferguson: Ronaldo can be a legend2 hours ago
Sir Alex Ferguson believes everything is in place for Cristiano Ronaldo to go on and become one of football's true greats.
Ronaldo has already achieved plenty in his short career - appearing in the final of Euro 2004 with Portugal, lifting two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with Manchester United, plus a host of individual honours, including the prestigious Ballon D'Or.
"Pele scored in a World Cup semi-final as a 17-year-old. Maradona played for his country at 17. Cristiano was 18. All the signs are the same." said Ferguson.
"What you don't know about him, but can say about Maradona and Pele, is that their careers lasted for a number of years.
"Pele played in two World Cup finals, as did Maradona. Maybe Portugal do not have the profile to get to World Cup finals, the same as Brazil and Argentina - so you have to judge him a different way."
It means Ferguson feels Ronaldo must maintain the high levels that brought him 42 goals last year and amass major honours in the same way Ruud Gullit and Zinedine Zidane achieved to assume the mantle of greatness. He would have to do even more to be regarded in the same company as Pele and Maradona.
Yet the Scot knows Ronaldo has all the attributes required to reach those heady heights. It is little wonder then that Real Madrid have been so keen to get him - and United just as determined the Madeira-born player should stay where he is.
"Cristiano is superb," said Ferguson.
"He has timing getting into the box, ability with two feet - and you would never associate a Portuguese winger with such magnificent ability in the air. He is like an old fashioned centre-forward.
"There are a lot of things in his favour to go on and become a legend. The answers will come in the next few years."
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