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'Brazilian Ronaldo Is Better Than The Portuguese One'

'Brazilian Ronaldo Is Better Than The Portuguese One'

Which Ronaldo is better?

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Two of the greatest players in the history of football share the 'Ronaldo' name but opinions are split as to which one was superior.

But for Christian Vieri, Ronaldo Nazario was better than Cristiano Ronaldo despite the Portuguese superstar winning five Ballon d'Ors and scoring over 700 career goals.

The Italian played up front with 'O Fenomeno' at Inter Milan, where Ronaldo scored 59 goals in 99 games and won a second Ballon d'Or, all while suffering persistent injury problems that disrupted his spell in Italy.

Image: PA
Image: PA

"I am a friend of Ronnie and I was lucky enough to have him as a striker with me," he told the Daily Mail.

"He had it all. He was explosive, powerful and fast. He looked like a dancer, he seemed to dance with the ball.

"I say that Brazilian Ronaldo is better than Cristiano Ronaldo.

"CR7 is a war machine, he is admirable for everything he does and for all the things he continues to do. Cristiano can play up to 40 years with a cigarette between his lips, as they say in Italy. He has a sculptural physique."

The 2007 Ballon d'Or winner Kaka played with both players during his coveted career and he also opted for R9 when asked who was the better Ronaldo.

He told SPORTbible: "Brazilian Ronaldo was the best player I ever played with. The things I saw that guy do on the field was amazing. Ronaldo was the best I played with, but what Cristiano did - and is doing - is just unreal.

"The most important thing for me about Cristiano is the way he can motivate himself after all the achievements he has got."

Although they are two absolute titans of world football, the two Ronaldos never came up against one another in a competitive fixture.

The two only shared the pitch once when were on opposite teams during a charity match organised by Luis Figo, a teammate of both players during his glittering career, back in July 2005.

The game was held at the Algarve stadium in Portugal in front of 25,000 fans and helped raised money for Luis Figo's Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

R9 was on the same side as Figo, with the team managed by Sir Bobby Robson - who coached the Brazilian when he was at Barcelona.

And it was the older, more experienced Ronaldo who proved to be the match-winner - scoring twice in a 2-1 victory for his team.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo