Cristiano Ronaldo Comments on Successor, Zinedine Zidane, Ballon d'Or and More

Real Madrid and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted "no one" can be his successor, adding he enjoys a "fantastic relationship" with manager Zinedine Zidane and describing 2016 as his "best year" ahead of the Ballon d'Or vote in January. 

The 31-year-old has just signed a new five-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and replied with confidence when Spanish newspaper Marca asked whether any player could become the next Ronaldo:

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No one can be the next Cristiano Ronaldo, there are no doubles. The next will be what he has to be, but never the same. That doesn't happen.

I see in Europe many young talents, I can mention several: Renato Sanches, Andres Gomes, or Joao Mario. There are many to choose from and I've only mentioned the Portuguese, but there are many in Europe who have the capacity to go far. I am very happy because these great talents assure that football will always be strong.

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Fans have come to expect no less of a player many consider to be the greatest of all time, not least of which comes thanks to his three Ballon d'Or titles and a glittering career at the club and international levels.

Ronaldo's greatest successes, however, have come during his stay at Real Madrid, and the Portuguese was quick to laud the talents of Zidane, who has guided the club to the summit of La Liga this season:

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We have a fantastic relationship. We won the Champions League last season and I was a fan of his when he was a player and more so as a coach. He's such a good person and such a good coach!

He continues to learn and I am delighted to be with him, because he is an extraordinary person.

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Just when it seemed as though Ronaldo's career was at its most glittering, the veteran forward lifted Real to a second UEFA Champions League crown in three seasons back in May before guiding Portugal to the UEFA Euro 2016 trophy.

It may be the last European Championship in which the phenomenon takes part, and Ronaldo described 2016 as "spectacular" on an individual level before adding his thoughts on where he stands in the Ballon d'Or running:

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I did everything last season; the Champions League, Euro 2016. The votes don't depend on me so I cannot be obsessed about whether I'm going to win or whether I deserve to win. If you ask me if I want to win, of course I do. I will not lie, but it's not up to me.

[...]

I'm calm because what I did last season was incredible and I'm very comfortable with my performances. It was my best year, so I'm happy.

"

Silverware doesn't always equate to Ballon d'Or success in what's supposed to be the greatest football celebration of individual merit, but a gilded 2016 certainly doesn't damage any player's hopes of winning.

Metro's Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen provided further quotes from Ronaldo, who confessed his vote for Coach of the Year at December's Ballon d'Or gala won't be going to Zidane, despite Real's Champions League triumph:

As busy as 2016 has been on the pitch for Ronaldo, it's also been a hugely successful year off the field, starting with the new five-year contract that will see him net £500,000 per week after tax with Real, per the Sun's John Hutchinson.

That report cited Forbes and further outlined Ronaldo as the highest-earning athlete of 2016 with a revenue of £71 million, while his new lifetime contract with sponsor Nike is also worth an otherworldly sum, as illustrated by Big Sport:

At 31 years of age, Ronaldo is teetering toward the twilight years of a footballer's career as far as the average player goes, but as any supporter will know, Real's talisman is anything but average.

We may not see another Ronaldo grace a pitch ever again, but boasting the kind of longevity few of his peers could ever hope for, the one and only original may yet dazzle European audiences for years to come.