Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario left Cristiano Ronaldo out of his list when naming the eight greatest footballers of all time.
Man Utd Legend: Ronaldo Should Be Treated Differently To Other players
During a recent interview, the Selecao icon praised former Barcelona captain Lionel Messi before admitting that, while he loves the 35-year-old Argentine, he does not want him to win the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo cited his country's intense rivalry with Argentina as the reason for his stance, before being asked to choose to pick between the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and Albiceleste legend Diego Maradona.
The ex-Real Madrid striker refused, stating that both of them belong among an elite eight-man list as the best footballers to have played the game, a list he left Manchester United's No. 7 out of.
"That's unfair," he told The Guardian.
"I think there is a very, very special group where you have Diego, Messi, [Johan] Cruyff, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Pele, [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.
"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."
Ronaldo Nazario claimed two Ballons d'Or in his injury-stricken yet trophy-laden career, with his first coming in 1997 and his second in 2002.
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