Brazil football icon, Ronaldo Nazario, has omitted his namesake, Cristiano Ronaldo, from his eight-man shortlist of greatest footballers of all time.
Speaking with the Guardian, Ronaldo Nazario called his eight-man shortlist a "special group" of footballers who he deemed the greatest ever known in football.
The former Real Madrid star omitted Manchester United and Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, from the list.
Included in Nazario's list are Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Lionel Messi, Pele, Franck Beckenbauer, Marco Van Basten, and Ronaldinho.
Nazario included himself as the last man on the list but added the fans can decide whether he should make the list or not.
"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," he said.
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer, 77, was a legendary Germany professional footballer and manager. He played as a defender.
Franz Beckenbauer made his mark while playing for Bayern Munich from 1964 to 1977, scoring 60 goals in 490 appearances.
He won the World Cup and European Championships for West Germany both as a player and manager.
Beckenbauer was the first defender in the history of football to win the Ballon d'Or twice in 1972 and 1976.
He is one of the most decorated defenders in the history of the game.
Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff, who died at the age of 68 in March, 2016 is always regarded as one of biggest name in football.
Johan Cruyff has been regarded as the father of Ajax's deep press football. He grew and nurtured his career at Ajax where he rose to prominence before hitting the peak of his career after he joined Barcelona in 1975.
Cruyff scored 193 goals in 245 appearances for Ajax. At Barcelona, he scored 48 goals in 143 appearances.
Johan Cruyff revolutionized football at Ajax and Netherlands. In his style as a player and manager, he fancied possessive and attacking football - a pattern that has influenced the likes of Pep Guardiola's tikitaka.
Cryuff won several Eredivisie titles as a player. He won the KNVB Cup as a manager and the LaLiga as a manager.
Marco Van Basten
Marco Van Basten, 58, is another Dutch manager and former player that has made it to Nazario's list.
Van Basten played as a striker for only two teams throughout his senior career - Ajax and AC Milan with triple and double digit goals, respectively.
He made 133 appearances for Ajax, scoring 128 goals. At AC Milan, he made 147 appearances, scoring 90 goals.
Van Basten was known for his intelligent ball controls, stunning goals and volleys, and powerful headers.
Van Basten won the Ballon d'Or three times in 1988, 1989, and 1992. He won the FIFA Player of the Year in 1992, including three Eredivisie titles, four Serie A titles, and three European Cup trophies.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 in November 2020. He has been regarded as one of the football wonders ever produced from South America after the likes of Pele.
With his small stature, Maradona was known for his passing accuracy, perfect dribbling skills, and great goal-scoring abilities.
He was nicknamed, "the Golden Boy" throughout his legendary football career.
Diego Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and the Copa America in 1989. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1995. At Barcelona, he won Copa Del Rey and Coup de La Liga.
He scored 81 goals for Napoli in his 188 appearances, winning two Serie A titles, Coppa Italia, Supercopa Italiana, and the UEFA Cup.
Pele
Pele had been regarded as one of the greatest footballers who ever lived. Pele died on December, 2022 at the age of 82. He is the first and only player to win the World Cup three times.
Nicknamed, "King," Pele almost average a goal per game throughout his career. Playing mainly as a striker, Pele was known for his vision and great dribbling skills. He was a prolific goal-scorer and a bulwark against the toughest defenses.
His career peaked at Santos where he scored 569 goals in 583 appearances. With his incredible strides in the game, Pele bagged several individual awards and honours.
He was awarded FIFA Player Of The Century in 2000.
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho, 43, has also made Nazario's eight-man list. Ronaldinho's career peaked at Barcelona, where he made 145 appearances for the club, scoring 70 goals.
Ronaldinho is a World Cup and Copa America winner with Brazil. He won the Ballon d'Or award in 2005, including several individual awards.
At Barcelona, Ronaldinho won the Champions League, Laliga, and Supercopa des Espana.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is a living legend. Just like his late legendary countryman, Diego Maradona, Messi is small in stature, playing as an attacking midfielder but his left leg work wonders.
His passing, dribbling, and goal-scoring abilities is mind-blowing. Lionel Messi crept into the pantheons and legends of football at Barcelona.
He won the LaLiga, Champions League, Copa Del Rey, Supercopa des Espana, Spanish and European Super Cup at Camp Nou.
Messi scored 474 LaLiga goals in 520 appearances for Barcelona. He is a record Ballon d'Or winner, having won the award seven times.
Messi won every trophy needed to be won by a football player but it was remaining the World Cup trophy.
In 2022, he ended his wait for the World Cup trophy and led Argentina to their third World Cup trophy.
Ronaldo Nazario
Ronaldo Nazario included his name as the eighth man on the list of football's greatest. He, however, left his entry into the list open to debate by fans.
Ronaldo Nazario is a big-name player in his own right. He reached the zenith of his career during his five-year spell with Real Madrid.
Nazario scored 83 goals in 127 appearances for Real Madrid. He won the LaLiga with Real Madrid, Copa Del Rey with Barcelona, UEFA Cup with Inter Milan, KNVB Cup with PSV Eindhoven, and several other club trophies.
Nazario is a two-time World Cup winner and a two time Copa America winner.
Speaking with the Guardian, Ronaldo Nazario called his eight-man shortlist a "special group" of footballers who he deemed the greatest ever known in football.
The former Real Madrid star omitted Manchester United and Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, from the list.
Included in Nazario's list are Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Lionel Messi, Pele, Franck Beckenbauer, Marco Van Basten, and Ronaldinho.
Nazario included himself as the last man on the list but added the fans can decide whether he should make the list or not.
"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," he said.
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer, 77, was a legendary Germany professional footballer and manager. He played as a defender.
Franz Beckenbauer made his mark while playing for Bayern Munich from 1964 to 1977, scoring 60 goals in 490 appearances.
He won the World Cup and European Championships for West Germany both as a player and manager.
Beckenbauer was the first defender in the history of football to win the Ballon d'Or twice in 1972 and 1976.
He is one of the most decorated defenders in the history of the game.
Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff, who died at the age of 68 in March, 2016 is always regarded as one of biggest name in football.
Johan Cruyff has been regarded as the father of Ajax's deep press football. He grew and nurtured his career at Ajax where he rose to prominence before hitting the peak of his career after he joined Barcelona in 1975.
Cruyff scored 193 goals in 245 appearances for Ajax. At Barcelona, he scored 48 goals in 143 appearances.
Johan Cruyff revolutionized football at Ajax and Netherlands. In his style as a player and manager, he fancied possessive and attacking football - a pattern that has influenced the likes of Pep Guardiola's tikitaka.
Cryuff won several Eredivisie titles as a player. He won the KNVB Cup as a manager and the LaLiga as a manager.
Marco Van Basten
Marco Van Basten, 58, is another Dutch manager and former player that has made it to Nazario's list.
Van Basten played as a striker for only two teams throughout his senior career - Ajax and AC Milan with triple and double digit goals, respectively.
He made 133 appearances for Ajax, scoring 128 goals. At AC Milan, he made 147 appearances, scoring 90 goals.
Van Basten was known for his intelligent ball controls, stunning goals and volleys, and powerful headers.
Van Basten won the Ballon d'Or three times in 1988, 1989, and 1992. He won the FIFA Player of the Year in 1992, including three Eredivisie titles, four Serie A titles, and three European Cup trophies.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona died at the age of 60 in November 2020. He has been regarded as one of the football wonders ever produced from South America after the likes of Pele.
With his small stature, Maradona was known for his passing accuracy, perfect dribbling skills, and great goal-scoring abilities.
He was nicknamed, "the Golden Boy" throughout his legendary football career.
Diego Maradona won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and the Copa America in 1989. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1995. At Barcelona, he won Copa Del Rey and Coup de La Liga.
He scored 81 goals for Napoli in his 188 appearances, winning two Serie A titles, Coppa Italia, Supercopa Italiana, and the UEFA Cup.
Pele
Pele had been regarded as one of the greatest footballers who ever lived. Pele died on December, 2022 at the age of 82. He is the first and only player to win the World Cup three times.
Nicknamed, "King," Pele almost average a goal per game throughout his career. Playing mainly as a striker, Pele was known for his vision and great dribbling skills. He was a prolific goal-scorer and a bulwark against the toughest defenses.
His career peaked at Santos where he scored 569 goals in 583 appearances. With his incredible strides in the game, Pele bagged several individual awards and honours.
He was awarded FIFA Player Of The Century in 2000.
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho, 43, has also made Nazario's eight-man list. Ronaldinho's career peaked at Barcelona, where he made 145 appearances for the club, scoring 70 goals.
Ronaldinho is a World Cup and Copa America winner with Brazil. He won the Ballon d'Or award in 2005, including several individual awards.
At Barcelona, Ronaldinho won the Champions League, Laliga, and Supercopa des Espana.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is a living legend. Just like his late legendary countryman, Diego Maradona, Messi is small in stature, playing as an attacking midfielder but his left leg work wonders.
His passing, dribbling, and goal-scoring abilities is mind-blowing. Lionel Messi crept into the pantheons and legends of football at Barcelona.
He won the LaLiga, Champions League, Copa Del Rey, Supercopa des Espana, Spanish and European Super Cup at Camp Nou.
Messi scored 474 LaLiga goals in 520 appearances for Barcelona. He is a record Ballon d'Or winner, having won the award seven times.
Messi won every trophy needed to be won by a football player but it was remaining the World Cup trophy.
In 2022, he ended his wait for the World Cup trophy and led Argentina to their third World Cup trophy.
Ronaldo Nazario
Ronaldo Nazario included his name as the eighth man on the list of football's greatest. He, however, left his entry into the list open to debate by fans.
Ronaldo Nazario is a big-name player in his own right. He reached the zenith of his career during his five-year spell with Real Madrid.
Nazario scored 83 goals in 127 appearances for Real Madrid. He won the LaLiga with Real Madrid, Copa Del Rey with Barcelona, UEFA Cup with Inter Milan, KNVB Cup with PSV Eindhoven, and several other club trophies.
Nazario is a two-time World Cup winner and a two time Copa America winner.
