Figo: 'I played with Ronaldo? No… he played with me'

Former Portuguese star Luis Figo affirmed that his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo possessed exceptional qualities from his early days, praising his significant development and career full of achievements.

Luis Figo said in an interview with “The Obi One Podcast”: "The 2004 tournament was his first major participation, but from that time we could see he was an amazingly talented player. He was very fast, possessed high technique, capable of playing with both feet, in addition to his great jumping ability."

In a humorous response to a question about his experience with Ronaldo at Euro 2004, Figo said: "I played with Ronaldo? No… he played with me. It's different," referring to his status within the Portuguese national team at the time.

He added: "At that time, he was still learning, and he was playing with us, but it was clear that he was a project of a great star. Honestly, it wasn't surprising to me that he reached where he is today."

He continued: "Some might think that any non-positive observation means jealousy, but that's not true. I have great admiration for Ronaldo, because he is a role model on and off the field."

Figo concluded his statement by saying: "Ronaldo carried Portugal's name to global recognition, thanks to his record-breaking numbers, his competitive spirit, and his constant desire to win and develop, and I can only praise what he has contributed to the history of football."