5 footballing personalities who picked Ronaldo Nazario over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

#3 Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid Training and Press Conference

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.

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#2 Kaka

Real Madrid v Marseille - UEFA Champions League

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.”

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#1 Ronaldinho

International Friendly: Brazil v Wales

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."

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