Capello: Ronaldo Isn’t Messi’s Geniu—A Fresh Take on Greatness
11 February 2026
The Italian coach slams Ronaldo after his Saudi setback.
Capello questions Ronaldo's place among football legends
Fabio Capello, the former Italian coach, launched a sharp critique of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al Nassr captain, arguing he should not sit in the same echelon as legends such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario.
Capello retired from coaching in 2018, but his long experience keeps him a constant voice with insights about the game.
This time, Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess and exceptional athleticism are acknowledged, yet Capello refuses to place him on the same table as history’s greatest icons.
Speaking on the On Sport program Hatrik in Egypt, "Cristiano is a great scorer and a remarkable athlete, but he does not possess the genius of Messi, Maradona, or Ronaldo Nazario."
The veteran coach added, "That genius, the other three possess, is missing in Ronaldo. He cannot be compared to them."
Barça, Madrid insights, and locker room dynamics
The remarks come amid Ronaldo's Saudi episode, where he reportedly rebelled and refused to take part in the matches in Riyadh and against Al-Ittihad, in protest of what he saw as insufficient support for his club.
Capello also praised Barcelona's "beautiful and immensely entertaining" football, though he pointed to several weaknesses.
"Barcelona’s weakness lies in a constant reliance on the offside trap. Sometimes, a few centimeters are all that separate a one-on-one at goal," he noted.
He touched on personality and ego in the dressing room, recalling his Real Madrid days, saying "Ronaldo Nazario was a negative captain, organizing big parties and not keen on training."
Capello believes some problems mirror those at Real Madrid, citing Mbappe’s episode when he asked teammates not to stand in a guard of honor for Barcelona after losing the Spanish Super Cup, saying "That means the coach no longer has authority or leadership."
He also weighed in on Jude Bellingham’s situation with the club, after his role diminished, noting "Even Ancelotti gave him freedom. Now it seems his wings are clipped, stuck in place."