One of the most heated debates in modern football—and likely one that will last for generations—is the GOAT discussion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The latest endorsement for Ronaldo comes from Omar Al Somah, the all-time leading scorer in the Saudi Pro League, who went as far as to claim that the Portuguese superstar is superior to Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Messi.
Just weeks ago, Al Somah faced Ronaldo on the pitch, scoring in Al Orubah’s 2-1 victory over Al Nassr. After the match, he shared a personal moment regarding his children’s admiration for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“After the game, my biggest concern was getting my kids a picture with Ronaldo,” Al Somah revealed. “Ever since he arrived in Saudi Arabia two years ago, they kept asking me, ‘Dad, when will you play against Ronaldo?’ I didn’t know how to answer because I wasn’t in the league at the time. As soon as I returned, they kept insisting. I finally got to take them to the game, and they were able to see him in person.”
At 35 years old, the Syrian striker recently returned to Saudi Arabia after a stint in Qatar. While he didn’t have a direct conversation with Ronaldo, he made his admiration clear.
“For me, Ronaldo is the greatest player in the world and in football history,” Al Somah stated. “What he has done in football… At 40 years old, he is still scoring goals that 20-year-olds can’t. No one should be offended by this—it’s just my opinion. But Ronaldo is the greatest ever, with all due respect to Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Zidane… He is a complete player. Everything you need in a footballer, you find in Cristiano.”