'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's greatness cannot be overstated, as the two legendary footballers have dominated the modern era of the beautiful game. However, Ronaldo Nazario is another player whose name has been brought up in the greatest of all-time debates, with the Brazilian hailed as one of the most naturally gifted players in history.
El Fenomeno truly was one of a kind and won a staggering number of personal and team accolades despite enduring an injury-laden career. Ronaldo represented Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan amongst other clubs, while he also etched his name in Brazil's history as one of Selecao's finest goalscorers.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined the modern era of football
The current generation of fans and footballers will be quick to rate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo above the Brazilian, but it could be argued that El Fenomeno could have had a much better career if it wasn't for his injury troubles.
Lionel Messi's brilliant comments about Ronaldo Nazario gave the younger generation some much-needed perspective, as the Argentine referred to him as one of his idols.
“Ronaldo was my hero. He was the best striker I’ve ever seen. He was so fast he could score from nothing, and could shoot the ball better than anyone.”
On that note, here are five famous footballing figures who picked the Brazilian great over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is someone who has rubbed shoulders with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Swedish striker described Ronaldo Nazario as the greatest footballer of all time when quizzed about the matter.
Speaking to Discovery Plus (quotes via Planet Football), the AC Milan star spoke glowingly about the two-time World Cup winner.
"I don't need to describe Ronaldo, 'The Phenomenon'. I always say you have the players that play the game, and the players that are the game. For me, Ronaldo is the game. When you watch him play, everyone wanted to play like him and become like him."
"The way he was moving, the way he did his stepovers, the way he did 'the snake'. The way he was moving, for me he's the greatest player through history, no doubt."
While Ibrahimovic has faced Cristiano Ronaldo a handful of times for club and country, he was teammates with Lionel Messi at Barcelona. The Swedish star has never been afraid to speak his mind and once again made a bold choice about the age-old debate.
#4 Jose Mourinho
Hailed as one of the greatest managers of all time, Jose Mourinho is one of the most talked-about figures in world football. The Portuguese great coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and also had the opportunity to watch Ronaldo Nazario at Barcelona while he was Bobby Robson's assistant.
As for Lionel Messi, Mourinho has come up against the diminutive Argentine several times in his career, but the Tottenham Hotspur boss singled out the former Brazilian striker for special praise when he spoke to Spanish newspaper AS.
"Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years."
"However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo. When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field."
"Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible."
Also Read: Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri chooses between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
#3 Zinedine Zidane
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane also picked Ronaldo Nazario as the greatest footballer he has seen, as he lavished praise on his former Los Blancos teammate. Both players were part of the Real Madrid Galacticos and endured fruitful spells together at the Santiago Bernabeu alongside the likes of Luis Figo, Michael Owen and other noteworthy names.
Zidane, who is one of football's most celebrated figures, described Ronaldo as the best player he had played with or against.
"Without hesitation, Ronaldo is the best player I have ever played with or against. He had such ease with the ball. Every day I trained with him, I saw something different, something new, something beautiful."
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also held in high regard by Zidane, but the way he spoke about El Fenomeno is the most startling example of the Brazilian's god-given ability on the ball.
#2 Kaka
Once upon a time, Kaka was joined by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the Ballon d'Or podium, as he eventually picked up the award in 2007. The former Real Madrid midfielder also had the privilege of playing alongside Ronaldo Nazario for Brazil, as Selecao won the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
When asked to name the best footballer he has played with, Kaka wasted no time in picking Ronaldo Nazario over Cristiano Ronaldo, who was his teammate at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2013.
“The best player I have ever played with? That’s Ronaldo. I have seen Il Fenomeno do things that nobody else has ever done."
“For me, the best players are those who are able to think of a play and execute it quickest and in the best way possible, and Ronaldo Nazario has been the best at that."
“The speed of thought that he had – and the speed he had to carry out his actions – were perfect. It was something amazing. I’ve thought a lot about other players before. I think he was a phenomenon.”
#1 Ronaldinho
Another Brazilian footballer who inspired millions of people with his ability on the ball, Ronaldinho often left opposition players in awe of his talents. The mercurial attacker enjoyed a stunning career with club and country and is hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Ronaldinho spent the best part of his club career with Barcelona, as he put the club back on the map and nurtured a certain Lionel Messi in his formative years. Nevertheless, the Brazilian picked Ronaldo Nazario as the most complete striker there ever will be and was full of praise for his compatriot.
“He was my idol and then I ended up playing and winning a World Cup with him. The most complete striker there has ever been, the most complete striker there will ever be, it is almost unbelievable to think that he never won the Champions League.”
In an interview with Marca, Ronaldinho also made an interesting claim about Lionel Messi, who he still holds in high regard due to the time they spent together at Barcelona.
'I'm glad Messi won the Ballon d'Or. We were also friends during our time at Barcelona. But I don't like to compare, and I find it difficult to say he is the best of all time."
"There was [Diego] Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo... it's hard to say that Messi is the best throughout the history of football. I can only say he is the best of his era."
Also Read: Sunil Chhetri chooses between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
