Real Madrid and Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazario has named his four greatest players of all time - and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is included.
Ronaldo initially rose to football stardom at Barcelona, scoring 47 goals in a single season at the club under the management of Sir Bobby Robson.
Given his reputation as one of the greatest to ever play the game, the Brazilian was one of the few players to play for both Barca and Real without facing too much scrutiny - unlike one Luis Figo.
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Inbetween that, Ronaldo played for Inter Milan, where two horrific knee injuries - partially caused by degeneration - threatened to wreck his career entirely.
That he came back to win the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, and star in the famous Real Madrid Galacticos team, was a testament to just how naturally talented he was.
The football icon, therefore, is in a good position to judge the greatest players that he has ever seen in the history of the sport.
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Speaking at a media event hosted by Santander Bank (quotes via Goal) in 2021, Ronaldo named Messi among the four GOATs - and added Cristiano Ronaldo for good measure.
He said: "For me, in the classification of the best in history, the four names would be Pele, [Diego] Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They are the top four in the history of football."
The Brazilian was also asked to name his dream signing at the time, and he gave the name of PSG star Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking during the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo revealed that he would be 'happy' for Messi to win the tournament - although stopped short of saying he would be happy for Argentina - Brazi's great rivals.
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He explained (quotes via Daily Mirror): "I will not be that much of a hypocrite to say I will be happy for Argentina because it's not true.
"But, of course, I see football as a romantic. Of course, I will accept [an Argentina victory], and I will enjoy any champion."
Topics: Ronaldo Nazario, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Football
Ryan Smart