The Premier League has seen some brilliant players over the years, but none of them have gone on to achieve what Cristiano Ronaldo has.
The more he conquers in the white of Real Madrid, the more it seems a pleasure that Ronaldo ever graced English football. His rise through the ranks at Manchester United from an untamed starlet to Ballon d'Or winner still looks remarkable now.
As Sir Alex Ferguson stated himself: "I don't mean to demean or criticise any of the great or very good footballers who played for me during my 26-year career at United, but there were only four who were world class: Cantona, Giggs, Ronaldo and Scholes.
"And of the four Cristiano was like an ornament on the top of a Christmas tree."
Praise of the highest order, no doubt about it.
Man United draw 0-0 with non-league Burton
Nevertheless, it's important to remember that Ronaldo's six year spell at Old Trafford was very much a process with his early seasons warranting criticism for diving and his physicality.
It was his final three years at the club, which reaped as many Premier League titles, that truly lifted him to stardom and if you subscribe to the verdict of Peter Schmeichel, that fateful 2006-07 campaign came just in time.
The season before, Ronaldo had featured in an infamous 0-0 draw with non-league Burton Albion with the Brewers earning a seemingly improbable replay.
United, who were on the brink of a third season without the title, received great criticism for the result and Schmeichel sunk his teeth in like few others. Only Wayne Rooney seemed to come out with any praise as Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Park Ji-Sung felt the Great Dane's wrath.
Peter Schmeichel delivers damning criticism
As recounted in Daniel Taylor's biography of Ferguson, Schmeichel lamented: "From where I'm looking, the players seem interested only in cars and who has the biggest diamond. The team lacks personality.
"They had that in Roy Keane but the only one with that kind of personality now is Wayne Rooney.
"I'm thinking about players who could take the club forward. Ronaldo? No chance. Park? No chance. Ferdinand? No chance. United would be a very ordinary team without Rooney."
Somebody caught Schmeichel on the wrong day!
The result came at the nadir of Ferguson's time in charge during the Premier League era, if there is such a thing, and it seems Schmeichel was pessimistic to say the least.
We're sure he was happier than anybody when United resumed their dominance, however, and Ronaldo made him eat his words. The moment he lifted the Champions League title in Moscow two years after drawing with Burton, suggests he well and truly took the club forward.
Do you think Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT? Have your say in the comments section below.