Ghana Premier League legend, Bernard Dong Bortey, has disclosed that he would have become the world's best player if he were still an active player today.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Dong Bortey acknowledged that he faced a lot of superstars that made it very difficult for the world to recognize his remarkable achievements on the field.

Despite having a successful career, Dong Bortey imagined the possibilities of playing in the modern era where his skills would have won him the prestigious world best player award.

“If our era were today, I would be the best in the world, but I am grateful to God for bringing me this far. The name ‘Dong Bortey’ will last forever.”

Meanwhile, the former Hearts of Oak forward has told fans to compare him to football legends like Ronaldinho and Beckham and not Cristiano Ronaldo.

Although some fans have compared his free-kick posture to that of Ronaldo, Dong-Bortey believes his abilities far surpass those of the Portuguese star.

"Ronaldo noticeably lags behind. I played during the time of Beckham and Juninho, but Ronaldo was still very young and often came off the bench," the ex-player said.

"You must compare me with Roberto Carlos, Figo, Pirlo, Totti, Juninho, Ronaldinho, and others, but not with Ronaldo," Bortey stated during an interview with Mothers 102.FM in Accra.

During his long stint with Hearts of Oak, Dong Bortey made over 100 appearances and was instrumental in the club winning four league titles and the CAF Confederation Cup.

He was also a joint top scorer in the Ghana Premier League in 2002.

JNA/MA