Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario as he picks his all-time best XI

Ronaldo Nazario picked his all-time best ever XI in football history but did not select his namesake, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, nicknamed 'O Fenomeno', has two Ballon d'Ors to his name and even with injuries taking their toll, scored 414 goals for club and country.

He is often considered as the "Original Ronaldo" by a portion of older football fans. The two Ronaldos only ever shared the pitch one one occasion and that was back in July 2005 for a charity match organised by Luis Figo.

They both achieved huge success at Real Madrid but 'R9' could not find a place for the Portugal superstar in his side.

In a video from February earlier this year, it shows him picking Gianluigi Buffon in goal before opting for compatriots Cafu and Roberto Carlos in a back four which also included Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini.

Image: Getty

In midfield it was no defending just vibes as Ronaldo opted to pair Zico with the late Diego Maradona before cooking up a devastating attacking quartet featuring himself, seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, the iconic that is Pele and football's greatest entertainer, Ronaldinho.

The side is stacked with players who completely changed the game and yet there was no place for Ronaldo despite him scoring over 800 career goals.

Image: Getty

But the 47-year-old has omitted Ronaldo. In an interview with The Guardian in 2022, he talked up eight players in a "special group" and singled himself out once again.

However, Ronaldo's name was not mentioned.

"I think there is a very, very special group where you have Diego, Messi, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pele, Van Basten, Ronaldinho," Ronaldo Nazario said.

"I would include myself. Let the fans say, let them debate it in the bars. But you can’t rank them, can’t compare generations.

"People call me Original Ronaldo but, bloody hell, there were others - and they weren’t false. I’m not the only one and more will come along and be better than me, in everything."

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario, Real Madrid, Lionel Messi

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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