Tyson Fury has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the 'greatest footballer that has ever lived' at a Champions Gala in Riyadh.<br /><br />The Gypsy King is all set to take on Francis Ngannou in the 'Battle of the Baddest' tonight in Saudi Arabia. <br /><br />But before he took to battle, a VIP event with some of the biggest sporting stars in the world took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.<br /><br />Among the guests was former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo. <br /><br />Speaking to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner on a sofa, Fury said: 'Cristiano you are the greatest footballer that has ever lived, and I mean that.<br /><br />'I am a big fan. I watched you at United the first time, the second time, and all your time at Real Madrid.'<br /><br />It appears the heavyweight champion of the world is not too big a fan of Lionel Messi. <br /><br />Also in attendance at the Champions Gala was the entire Fury family, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Israel Adesanya, Chuck Liddell, Lenox Lewis, Oscar de la Hoya, and Oleksandr Usyk. <br /><br />Since Ronaldo's £172million two-year move to Al Nassr, he has had ample opportunity to attend high-profile fighting events that have been staged in Saudi Arabia. <br /><br />Discussing the upcoming fight, Fury told the media: 'It's like a table tennis champion facing Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, totally different.'<br /><br />Yesterday, Fury and Usyk came face-to-face in Saudi Arabia after they signed a contract last month for an undisputed world heavyweight title battle later this year, with the about to take place in Riyadh on December 23.<br /><br />The pair had regularly traded various insults in recent times - which included Fury labeling Usyk a 'sausage' - before they bumped into each other after walking a red carpet of boxing royalty ahead of a gala dinner on the eve of Fury-Ngannou.<br /><br />And the pair shared an unexpected embrace before the Ukrainian lifted his rival champion.
