Lionel Messi names Ronaldo as the best striker in the world. But the Argentine isn’t talking about his arch rival Cristiano.
The debate over who the greatest striker in the world will continue for time immemorial. Everybody will always have their own opinion over who the greatest goal scorer was. The choices are made for several reasons.
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Some would argue that Pele was the best there was, some would swear by Thierry Henry. However, off late it seems that many are beginning to agree upon the fact that Ronaldo Nazario is the best football to have ever donned the number 9 role.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has now also joined the vocal lot that have recently begun to appreciate the phenomenal Brazilian star. Speaking in an interview with AS, Messi said:
“Ronaldo [Nazario] was a phenomenon. Of all the strikers I ever saw, he was the best.”
That is incredible praise from a player who is considered the greatest of all time by many. Especially when you take into account the pedigree of players he has shared the dressing room with. Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto’o Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and many more and yet the Argentine believes that the most prolific scorer he has seen is ‘El Fenomeno’
Ronaldo Nazario: the phenomenon
Lionel Messi is not incorrect in his assessment. It is his opinion after all. However, the Brazilian does present an excellent case for himself. The now retired Brazilian, played over five hundred matches at club level. He ended up scoring over three hundred and fifty-two goals.
He also won two Ballon d’Ors, was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and scored twice in the 2002 World Cup Final to win the tournament for Brazil. Unfortunately, his life style and bad luck with injuries meant that his career never rose to the levels that were expected off him.
Regardless, the man was moving mountains in his prime and could have very well ended up being greater talents than either of Cristiano or Messi. However, as things stand today, the Brazilian will always be football’s greatest what if.
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