Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has showered legendary Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo with admiration, describing him as a “machine” driven by an unstoppable hunger for goals.

Speaking in an interview with Ghanaian broadcaster Kafui Dey, Partey recounted his experience facing Ronaldo during his early career stint at Spanish side Almeria. The now 40-year-old Ronaldo, then at the peak of his powers with Real Madrid, left a lasting impression on Partey after netting twice in their two encounters.

“He is a machine who is focused on goals; he only wants to score,” Partey stated. “You can dominate all you want, but they get the ball, feed Ronaldo and boom—he scores. That’s how dangerous he is.”

Partey also reflected on the unique challenge of going up against Lionel Messi, stressing that facing Barcelona in its golden era was like trying to solve a complex puzzle.

“You’re not only playing against Messi. You’re playing against Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi, and the others. It’s a complete team,” Partey explained, pointing to the multifaceted threat posed by the Catalan giants.

His remarks are a reminder of just how overwhelming it was to face two of football’s greatest icons at the height of their dominance.