Ronaldo Nazario snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo when naming the eight greatest players in football history
Ronaldo Nazario snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo when naming the eight greatest players in football history.
The Brazilian legend is one of the all-time greats of world football himself - though could have even greater had it not been for two serious knee injuries suffered while at Inter Milan.
It was perhaps telling as to just how good he was before those injuries that he was able to recover and win the 2002 World Cup, before embarking on a five-year spell with Real Madrid as one of Florentino Perez's prized 'Galacticos'.
His best season in professional football was a 47-goal haul in the 1996/97 season while playing for Sir Bobby Robson's Barcelona.
Advert
He only spent one year at the Camp Nou but would forever go down in Barca history - despite eventually becoming one of only a select few players to turn out for both El Clasico clubs.
Ronaldo also won the Ballon d'Or twice, one of only 10 players to lift the iconic trophy more than once during his career.
And his individual achievements are enough for the Brazilian to believe he is one of the eight greatest players of all time among legendary company.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2022, he stated: "I think there is a very, very special group.
"Where you have Diego [Maradona], [Lionel] Messi, [Johan] Cruyff, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Pele, [Marco] Van Basten, Ronaldinho.
"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 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."
Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently turned 40, will no doubt have been dismayed to have missed out on the Brazilian's list, as he described himself as the 'most complete player' in football history.
Speaking to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito on Monday, the Al Nassr forward said: "I think I am the most complete to have ever existed. In my opinion, it's me.
"I do everything well in football: with my head, free kicks, left foot. I'm fast, I'm strong.
"If you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand that and I respect that. But saying Ronaldo isn't complete... I'm the most complete."
Topics: Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pele, Diego Maradona
Ryan Smart