5 Football Legends Who Picked Ronaldo Nazario Over Cristiano Ronaldo

• Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario are often compared to each other in discussions, which always heat up
• The Portugal star and the Brazil icon are always mentioned in many top 10 lists of the greatest players
• Cristiano is considered the GOAT, but others, including legendary footballers, prefer Nazario over the Al-Nassr star

Ronaldo Nazario and Cristiano Ronaldo are the most famous Ronaldo's in the world.

The two football icons played in different eras and are always included in the GOAT debates.

Nazario and Cristiano are often debated, and although many feel the Al-Nassr striker has the upper hand, some, including legendary footballers, still choose the Brazilian.

The Portuguese superstar continues to break records at 39, while the Brazilian had hanged his boots at 35.

However, Nazario had to retire because his career was plagued by injuries. Still, he won two World Cups and two Ballon d'Or awards and is regarded as one of the greatest strikers in football history.

Meanwhile, Cristiano has reached a level that few footballers have reached. He recently scored his 900th goal and continues to play at the highest level at 39.

Some consider him the greatest footballer in history, but many fans believe his long-time rival Lionel Messi is better.

Some legendary football figures have picked Nazario over Cristiano and given their reasons. Here are some of them.

5 football stars who picked Nazario over Cristiano

Thierry Henry

Henry faced both players and had first-hand experience with the two legends. The Frenchman recently referred to the Brazilian as the "real Ronaldo," eliciting outrage on social media.

When asked if he had ever swapped shirts with one player, the World Cup winner said he had, and that player was Brazilian Ronaldo.

“I did, Ronaldo, R9. The real one. Growing up, how many Ronaldo did you know when you were growing up? In the game, people would say he’s the real one. Ronaldo is R9, Cristiano is Cristiano Ronaldo,” via Football London.

Kaka

The AC Milan legend shared the pitch with Cristiano at Real Madrid and won the 2002 World Cup with Nazario. However, he picked R9 over Cristiano.

“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."

Luis Figo

Figo shared the pitch with both of them, so his opinion carries some weight. The Portugal icon

"While Cristiano is still playing, I'll say Ronaldo was the best in front of goal. But the two of them guarantee you lots of goals in any team," via AS.

Figo played with R9 at Real Madrid and Cristiano at Portugal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The legendary Swedish striker picked R9 when asked who the greatest player of all time is.

“Ronaldo ‘the Phenomenon’. As a child I imitated him," he said via Football365.

The former Barcelona striker comes from the same era as Cristiano and faced him many times for club and country.

Jose Mourinho

As one of the greatest coaches of all time, Mourinho watched the two players rise to become icons in the game. He coached Cristiano at Real Madrid, and they broke many records together.

He picked R9 based on pure talent and skill but commended Messi and Ronaldo for their longevity.

“Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible."

“However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo,” via BeIn Sports.

Other footballers who picked R9: Alan Shearer, Alessandro Nesta, Mikael Silvestre, Samir Nasri, Ian Wright

Ronaldo Nazario's GOATs

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Ronaldo Nazario picked four players he considers the greatest in football history.

The World Cup winner selected Messi, Cristiano, Pele, and Diego Maradona as the GOATs.