Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazario, renowned for his stints with Real Madrid and Brazil, recently unveiled his selection of the four most significant players in the sport’s history.
Notably, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi secured a spot in this prestigious list. Ronaldo’s meteoric rise to fame began at Barcelona, where he netted an impressive 47 goals in a single season under Sir Bobby Robson’s management.
His status as one of the game’s all-time greats allowed him to transition seamlessly between Barcelona and Real Madrid, avoiding the intense scrutiny faced by some, like Luis Figo.
During his career, Ronaldo also showcased his skills at Inter Milan, facing the daunting challenge of two severe knee injuries, partly attributed to degeneration, which posed a serious threat to his professional journey. Nevertheless, his triumphant return to the pinnacle included securing the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and becoming a key figure in the renowned Real Madrid Galacticos team, underscoring his extraordinary natural talent.
Given his remarkable journey, Ronaldo stands in a unique position to assess the greatest players in the history of football. Speaking at a 2021 media event hosted by Santander Bank (quotes via Goal), he identified Lionel Messi among the four greatest of all time (GOATs) and included Cristiano Ronaldo in this esteemed list 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.”
During the discussion, Ronaldo was posed with the question of his dream signing, and without hesitation, he expressed his admiration for PSG sensation Kylian Mbappe.
Addressing the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo openly shared that he would find joy in seeing Messi secure victory in the tournament, yet he tactfully refrained from extending that sentiment to Argentina, Brazil’s arch-rivals.
“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.”
Ronaldo Nazrio via Daily Mirror
