As a seasoned sports data analyst with a decade of deep-dive work on elite footballers, I’ve examined why Cristiano Ronaldo consistently falls short of being ranked alongside legends like Johan Cruyff or Ronaldinho—despite his staggering stats. This isn’t about bias; it’s about context, legacy, and how we measure greatness. In this article, I break down the numbers, the narrative, and the cultural weight behind these rankings—using real data from IFHFS and expert panels. Spoiler: It’s not just about goals.