Ronaldo omits Cristiano Ronaldo from “special” group of eight greatest players ever

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Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario has snubbed Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo when debating who the greatest players of all time are.

The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid superstar was discussing a “special group” of some of the finest footballing talent the game has ever witnessed when he opted against naming the 37-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner. It marks another blow for the Portugal skipper who has suffered a miserable time of it as of late.

Ronaldo has been temporarily exiled from the first-team fold at Old Trafford after he refused to come off the bench during last week’s 2-0 home victory over Tottenham before storming down the tunnel before the full-time whistle had been blown.

It will undoubtedly come as a dent to the United forward’s pride that he wasn’t named in Ronaldo Nazario’s exclusive list of the game’s best ever.

Speaking to The Guardian, the former Selecao sensation explained: “I think there is a very, very special group where you have Diego, Messi, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pelé, 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.”

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The ex-‘Galactico’ has an honours list that makes for sensational reading. A two-time LaLiga winner, Ronaldo Nazario also boasts two Ballon d’Ors won in 1997 and 2002 respectively.

The first of those two crowning moments came while he was just 21 years of age, making him the youngest ever recipient of the gong – a record he still holds to date.

His second Ballon d’Or triumph came in the same year as his second World Cup win, with Ronaldo Nazario lifting the sport’s most coveted trophy in USA 1994 and the 2002 tournament held in Japan and South Korea.

Many feel that if the Brazilian could have stayed fit throughout his career instead of having it curtailed be persistent knee injuries he could have achieved even more.

Jose Mourinho once described Ronaldo Nazario to Corriere dello Sport as he explained: “The best football player that I have ever seen on a pitch. I think injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible.

“But that talent this guy had at 19 years old was something incredible.”