Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has praised Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his side's Champions League clash with the 10-time Champions League winners on Tuesday, stating that the Portuguese attacker “is the best player in the world”.
The Reds face the daunting task of traveling to Madrid to lock horns with the defending European champions at Santiago Bernabeu, as Liverpool aim to gain advantage over Bulgarian side PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the race for Group B's second qualifying spot.
Ronaldo, an expected inclusion in FIFA's 2014 23-man Ballon d'Or shortlist, guided Carlo Ancelotti's men to a 3-0 win over the Merseyside club in the two teams' last meeting, scoring his first ever goal at Anfield, whilst moving to only a goal off of Raul's all-time European goalscoring record of 71 strikes.
"Ronaldo is, at this moment in time, the best player in the world," said Rodgers.
"He will tell you himself it is very much about the team. They have some outstanding players in [Karim] Benzema, Isco, [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos.
"He is the catalyst of that team and let's hope he doesn’t score too many more tomorrow."
Liverpool's 41-year-old Northern Irish manager also claimed that Los Blancos are currently the best team in the world, but insisted his side aren't headed to the Bernabeu to lose.
"They are probably the best team in the world at the moment and we really look forward to big games," the Liverpool boss added.
"When you come up against the best opponents, that is the challenge and what makes you perform to your best."
