snubbed
Brazil legend Ronaldo omits Cristiano Ronaldo from his list of football’s greats with the Manchester United star snubbed for rival Lionel Messi as well as Pele, Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona
Brazil icon Ronaldo has named the greatest players in football history - and his list doesn't include Cristiano Ronaldo.
The two-time World Cup winner will go down as one of the game’s all-time greats thanks to a goal laden and awe-inspiring career.
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Injury sadly took its toll on the now 46-year-old, stopping him from producing the incredible numbers that Lionel Messi managed, despite his early career suggesting that was an inevitability.
Instead, his goal count stands well below that of Manchester United’s Ronaldo, but that isn’t enough to see the Portuguese star make his list of greats.
Speaking to the Guardian following the release of his documentary, 'The Phenomenon', Ronaldo was discussing the 2022 World Cup and asked about Argentina’s chances.
Refusing to back Messi due to his country’s rivalry with Brazil, Ronaldo was asked who was the best Argentine, Messi or Diego Maradona.
“That’s unfair,” he said. “I think there is a very, very special group where you have Diego, Messi, [Johan] Cruyff, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Pelé, [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.
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“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.
“I did what I could, the best I could. I’m doing other things now, important things, and I want to keep improving myself. As a footballer I can’t do any more now.”
A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, who played 105 times for Brazil, scored 104 goals for Real Madrid, Ronaldo inspired a number of world class footballers, but surprisingly isn’t the reason Manchester United’s forward has the same name.
It in fact came from Cristiano’s father’s favourite actor Ronald Regan, who became US president when his son was born.
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Ronaldo Nazario did still credit the Man United star, though, listing him as a modern reference point for countryman Neymar.
“People love him a lot,” Ronaldo said of the Paris Saint-Germain man. “If we talk specifically about football, I doubt there’s anyone who doesn’t love him.
“His private life transcends football but I’m not interested. He’s daring, has skill, variety, is quick, scores goals, has personality.
“You could compare him to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, even though they’re from a different planet. On the pitch Neymar is one [thing], then people mix in all the other stuff.”