To all my 80s and 90s kids - remember football italia, Channel 4, on a sunday afternoon? - Peter Brackley commentating and Ronaldo at Inter Milan... those were amazing days!
His crazy hair in 2002 ended up going super viral. Many countries had kids with that haircut. Indonesia even had several shows where the protagonist had that hair. And he used that hair to deflect rumors about his knee. All the hype was accidental... The man's hype was somewhat else. It was truly like Jordan, where even LeBron, Curry and Kobe's hype are nowhere near as high as His Airness.
"You can have organisation, you can have tactics, you can have players at the top of their game, but there's no account to the genius. That man's a genius."
I remember Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick against United at Old Trafford and everyone giving him a standing ovation. He was something so special. He was Messi and CR7, Madonna, Pele and Best all rolled into one player. He had it all. If he had never got all the injuries then there would never be an argument on who is or was the greatest of all time. And let's not forget. He was in a generation of players who could of easily be counted as the greatest. But he stood out like a sore thumb.
He was simply the perfect striker. He was heavily criticised in 1998 in some circles when he had his seizure before the World Cup final but people forget he was only 21 at the time and was already comfortably the best player we had ever seen.
The agility, while running at full speed, to accelerate even more and ghost between those 2 defenders is like something out of Mortal Kombat, ninja-like ability I’ve never seen another athlete have
Played when two footed slide tackles were allowed, without those 2 knee injuries that kept him out of the game for the best part of 2 years... He's the goat
I wasn’t able to see Pele play, but I’ve seen Ronaldo. And I’ve never seen a player like him. He’s unique. The number one in everything. There’s only one RONALDO
Facts brother people don't really understand his greatness he won everything and was the reason his teams won everything. He was built for the biggest stages in football ever.
Im trying to recreate Ronaldo's stats on FIFA, as realistically and as honestly as possible, for his prime (1996/97 and 1997/98). Can somebody help me with his pace, dribbling, stamina and shooting stats?
I remember being 16 when Ronaldo was playing at Barca…and seeing that Nike advert drop….”imagine if you asked God to create the greatest football player ever, and he was listening”!!! Haven’t seen it since but can picture it in my head like it was yesterday!!
Grew up watching him play…I know he didn’t have the goals, consistency or longevity as a C. Ronaldo or Messi, but this guy, for pure raw talent, just amazing.
Brazil was missing the original/ natural striker ever as Ronaldo R9. His perfect complete with combination of skill, speed, strenght, power & intelligent. We never seen a player like him again. Simply and sharp on target. Humble reaction when celebrate scoring goals.
At the same time, you're asking for "one of a kind" player. It's hard to find someone that can have such impact in any game in one's lifetime. I feel glad i've watched him play at his peak, before his knees start giving him trouble...by far the best i've ever seen! A real wild/classy/genius/beast player!
I will never forget this guy and how the whole world was in awe of his genious throughout his career especially bofore the major injuries, it is a trajedy that he is not hailed as the best ever due to the injuries or else he was obviously the king
The biggest shame is not the fact that the injuries stifled him, it's the fact that all the videos of him are not in 4k! That kid is the greatest footballer to ever put on a pair of boots! Genius!
I would have to say unfortunately because of injuries the prime of his career was extremely short about 4 years ( 96,97,98 most of 99 until injury). But man....his prime was the highest I've ever seen. He had speed and especially this brute force acceleration he could go from 0 to flying in 2 steps on top of that he had strength, amazing technical skills , instinct, world class finisher and very cerebral in his movement, midfielders loved playing with him because he knew what they were going to do before they did it and moved accordingly. He also had that creativity and Brazilian flair when it was needed. Overall I would say his defining skills at his peak was that amazing first step acceleration and speed along with dribbling and finishing. A testament to his greatness is that he carried Brazil to a Word Cup 2002 even after career threatening injuries and he definitely wasn't the same player anymore didn't have the first step acceleration and speed like before the injuries but was such a complete striker that he relied more on his other skills like positioning,movement, accurate finishing, instincts and smartness.
Indeed. It's very, very difficult to rate Ronaldo's career. There are so many players who had 2-3 good seasons and then just disappeared or dropped a level or two. That was never Ronaldo's problem, because he was a top 3-4 striker even after all the injuries, behind only Henry, Van Nistelrooy and Sheva who were in their prime then. Still, if I could change only one thing in the history of football it would be saving Ronaldo from injuries so the world could have seen his skill for many years and then we would not have these idiotic Messi/Cristiano discussions - neither of them are even top 5 of all time, Messi maybe top 6-7 depending on the parameters. An older guy who watched thousands of games once told me that the best way to describe Ronaldo is that before injuries he was a hurricane, and after the injuries a cobra.
so if you show the greatest football skills and talent in four consecutive years is not enough. Some of the greatest ever coaches and players considered R9 as the GOAT. R9 skills has revolutionized the world of football, there are skills only he could do it and never ever anyone else have tried. Tell me skills and talent Messi and C7 are bettering R9 other than longevity ???!
@@yuusufjama In terms of individual skillset, he's the greatest. But to be in top 5 players of all time, you need to have longevity too, along with skill, trophies, the ability to boost the entire team etc.
@@cimmerian5194 Maradona 1985-1990 '5years' that is his peak...R9 1995-1998...again 2001-2004 '8Years' he was on his peak. when you listened to tabloid sports news they effect into some degree on your judgement of players. in eighties and nineties players expected longevity was roughly around 7-10 years or 21-31 years of age, nowadays thank to science & technology the longevity expectation has significantly risen. interims of trophies he has it r u kidding me, 2 World CUPs 1 World Cup runner up, 2 Copa America, 2 European titles with Barcelona and inter etc etc.... for me all that is for the player's satisfaction, for a fan like You and Me is the ability footballing skillset of the Player.
am not saying he is in the top Five!! Am saying he is the GOAT by far far distance much better than Pele & Maradona let alone these physically enhanced robots Messi & Cr7
If you saw Ronaldo play Live from week to week, you will never settle for Messi and CR7, no way near in fact. No player can get the ball in midfield and make you feel its a goal coming. Iam old enough to grow up watching him, i wish i was more mature to appreciate him more, but his the best ever Period.
All the Messi and Ronaldo fan boys will never understand this man is the greatest to ever grace a pitch! You can’t even mention them 2 in the same breath as this man IMO!
2002 world cup, was one of the best world cups I can remember. I remember staying up late to watch the games, because of time zone differences. I remember telling my dad Brazil would win 2-1 against Germany. Good times, watching Ronaldo play
Aw Ronaldo. When I was a kid I bought the VHS, amazing memories. He was the best in my opinion. He would disappear for the whole match then reappear from nowhere and scoring dribbling the GK
ronaldo was central striker and the other 2 wide players ALSO R9 played in brazil and dutch league, wher elets be honest the stardard of defeding is CRAP Messi and ronaldo played in la liga and premier league ...not even close also you should have shown us number fo goals in relation to number of games played, that is a more fair assessment
I was 8 when I first saw him play in the 1998 World Cup. This guy was out of this world amazing. Reflex, reaction, skills, footwork, speed, agility, strength, shot power and accuracy was amazing. Only thing he was missing was Free-Kick and header. Other than that, majority of his attributes were unmatched. Was really upsetting when Inter Milan rushed his recovery from his injuries.
He actually scored plenty of header and free kick goals during his career. His free kick goals during his time in Inter were very impressive. Just because he didn’t specialize in headers doesn’t mean he was missing them.
Growing up we all wanted to be Ronaldo Phenomenon....he was a true football phenomenon...a genius that did things no one ever did....his finishing was incredible, dribbles breath taking....speed unstoppable....I wiil forever regard him as the greatest of all time.....he made us all love football the same way Ronaldinho did. he is a true legend who transformed the game like no one else has done in the past decade....Great respect for Messi and CR7, but The Phenomenon is just in a league of his own...That is why even Messi says R9 was his idol.....his greatest inspiration! No wonder Messi is so good.....he takes after the greatest....R9
I will not mention speed, ability to take out defenders, strength, i will mention only 1 thing: his ability to brake the offside lines was amazing. I barely remmember him falling in offside, for example now if Klope or pep want to play high line Vs R9 they are scrued he will finish the game in 15 minutes, and if jose mourinho want to play low line and put 2 men on him also R9 will find a way to pass all the defenders and score, or simply he will score his trade mark goal from outside the box assive its a penalty (1st goal Vs Germany in 2002). One of a kind, the phenomenon, i fall in love with Football bcuz of him.
Its funny now they said mbappe and haaland were a monstrous strikers... They dont watched this guy live...its not about nostalgia..it just that hes phenomenon..in the prime era of football with so many legendary footballers around the globe🌐 hes the mighty king..he the youngest ballon dor winner in prime football eras..just imagine how insane that was.. Football became fast football to counter R9... Even God had to nerf him early...because hes basically cheat🔥
If he played in today’s era he would be the biggest player combining all sports .. nobody hate that guy man .. even his opponent teams supporter loved him ..
When other great footballers like zidane, buffon etc say hes the greatest u know the man was special always been my favourite striker of all time never seen anyone like him to this day the man was a football genius !
@@pv4504 As my heart and mind has been held captive by my Lord and my God Jesus Christ, He has cleansed me of all idolatrous things. The world is at unrest, but for those that know Him, He let them rest in His peace. Seek Him while Him can be found, for that day is coming for all things to be shaken.
We can not measure how strong he could reach if he didn't get serious knee injuries. ❤💗❤ Ronaldo Nazario is the greatest football player in my heart. If he didn't get serious knee injuries and become overweight (free from training) , he would improve to be the strongest one and could play far better than what he did that we have seen. From 2002 he did't improve or develop his talents anymore and became slower and slower and couldn't perform vigorously because afraid of his chronic injuries relapse. He is the real king of striker 😍
I remember really getting into Football as a kid around 2001 I remember the aura surrounding the world cup in 02 and then Ronaldo just absolutely dominates that whole competition, as a 9 year old it blew my mind.
he suffered from hypothyroidism which affected his ability to keep his weight down due to the medication being illegal to use as a footballer. can’t help but wonder if that exacerbated his knee injuries. A football god amongst mere mortals.
What led to his knee injury is inter trying to bulk him up fast to deal with the extra physicality and defence of the Italian league.. then his knee tendons didn’t keep pace with the extra bulk they put on him. The sports science was not as good then as now.
R9. The most complete striker of all time period. Ronaldinho for me will always be the most skilful, naturally talented footballers of all time but R9 was an alien.
He is too fast, powerful physically and strong and skillful too! He will get past you even if you pull his jersey, he never fall and just continue charging forward!
Some of the greatest ever coaches and players considered R9 as the GOAT. R9 skills has revolutionized the world of football, there are skills only he could do it and never ever anyone else have dared tried it. Tell me skills and talent Messi and C7 are bettering R9 other than longevity ???!
fico muito feliz de vcs gringos fazerem videos homenagiando o que pra mim foi o maior que vi jogar antes da contusão era imparavel , depois continuo jogando muito mais temos que concordar que a lesão o limitou fico triste de ver essa nova geração de espectadores e jornalistas reverenciado jogadores como messi e cristiano ronaldo falando que esses dois são os maiores de todos os tempos mais respeito suas opiniões e tenho que concordar que ambos se destacam a um bom tempo e são craques mais fenômeno é fenômeno sempre
@@Imcat788 mas é o que eles virao, não tem muito que se fazer. Messi e CR7, estão no trono a uma década, por dois motivos, são muito motivados mas também estão numa década fraca de talento individual. Uma decada antes eles não teriam essa supremacia. E a longevidade não é exclusiva deles, olha o tanto de jogadores que vem jogando em alto nível após os 30, ou até depois dos 35. Coisa que antigamente era só um punhado que conseguia.
I grew up idolizing Maradona, Baggio, Del-Piero and eventually Messi, who has done things on a football pitch, that I've watched and giggled like a little boy....but this boy (R9), was different gravy!! 👌😍
He has everything as a Striker,a complete striker,he was all great players in one body,before injury he was unstoppable,fast like ferrari,dryblling like Ronaldinho,body balance like Zidane,finishing like Pele,very strong and fast with the ball,he could score with left foot like it was his dominant,and he was bulid like a monster but with the ball he was like a dancer what I mean I never seen anybody move like him with his physical body just incredibly,and to think he could be even better but injuries stoped him,maybe that good cause then people would doubt that he Is a human
there is not one player in my lifetime, that can play with the opponent GK like he did, as many times as he did. He is absolutely one of the best striker of football history.
Ronaldo POWER is what seperates him for CR7! Cr7 never really played against the prime best, he just missed that era. The greats were on their way out and CR7 to some put them to bed. But imagine peak Nesta, Stam, Sol Campbell, Cannavaro, Maldini, Gallas, Carvalho, Desailly etc they were powerful QUICK specimens. CR7 would of been in for a rough ride because at those times TACKLES were not like today's Tackles and defenders prided themselves in the ART OF DEFENDING! MESSI and Cr7 era was more about systems stopping you than actual one on one duals! Harry McGuire runs away from the main striker whilst the likes of Thuram, Ledley, Baresi took pride in dealing with the threat. Not taking anything away, but this is real facts!
But todays game is more technical and tactical. So u cant roam freely with the ball the way he used to at the time. The modern game is harder than the past
Tactical I would argue that too, maybe new formations and a different emphasis on playing styles, like using the goal keeper like an extra player, but that term is used sparingly without any facts to back it up. Luckily I've been able to watch some of the greatest teams/players and again the modern day player is more fitter but the actual standard has fallen dramatically. Now its obsessions with formations etc, but imagine prime Henry in the Premier league now lol...
"The only man that can play in any era and dominate football." ~can not remember who said these Many seem to base everything on career longevity and career achievements nowadays, but remember back then it was pretty hard to not get injured in games, specially if you're the main target by everyone since you're the biggest threat. Not sure about the stats but R9 is probably one of the most tackled players in the world.
