IRISH FOOTBALL PUNDIT Eamon Dunphy has compared Cristiano Ronaldo to Pele following the Real Madrid star’s Ballon d’Or win last night.
Speaking on RTE’s Game On, Dunphy said: “He’s come on in the last two years to become a very great player. Pele presented the award, and he’s up there with Pele now.
“In the seven days that Eusebio, another great Portuguese player, passed away, I think it’s appropriate and poignant, and he was clearly extremely moved to receive this award.”
The former Millwall and Ireland player was previously a vocal critic of Ronaldo, arguing that the player’s attitude and petulance was preventing him from becoming a great player.
However, Dunphy believes that Ronaldo has since matured and succeeded in fulfilling his potential as a result, saying he “cut out the simulation in his game” and adding:
“It reminds us how great some of the players in the modern era are… Overall, his behaviour has changed, [as has] his demeanour and his contribution to the team.
“To be a great player, you need other things, and he has acquired them, which is delightful, for somebody who was a critic of his for many years.
“They’re the standards we should set for great players and I wouldn’t make any apology for having criticised him in the past.”