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Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario
Daniel Marland
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario
Cristiano Ronaldo has named Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazario as his idols in football - but joked he's won more individual awards than them.
The Manchester United superstar sat down with ESPN Brasil and named the two Samba legends as players he looked up to as a youngster.
Ronaldinho and Ronaldo won the 2002 World Cup together and are regarded as two of the greatest of all time.
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"I don’t like comparisons," the 36-year-old begun.
"I prefer to say that the two [Ronaldo Nazario and Ronaldinho Gaúcho] left their legacy, their history.
"I can say, by facts, that I won more individual titles than they did, but both won World Cups.
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“I sympathize a lot with them. I grew up watching them both play. Saying who is the best, who is second, is not the most important thing.
“I prefer to say that they are idols and left a beautiful history in football.”
Ronaldo is yet to win a World Cup with Portugal and his last shot at glory could be Qatar 2022, but Portugal are yet to qualify.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner he did win Euro 2016 as captain of his country.
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He also won the inaugural UEFA Nations League back in 2019 and holds the records for most goals in international football history.
At club level, Ronaldo has won five Champions Leagues, three Premier Leagues, two La Ligas and two Serie A titles as well as a number of other cups.
He returned to United this summer and it's been a strong campaign personally, scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances so far.
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But the club parted ways with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November and currently sit in seventh, six points outside the top four.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has turned results around for the most part, but performances at Old Trafford are far from convincing.
When asked about Rangnick's impact on the team, Ronaldo told Sky Sports: “He arrived here five weeks ago.
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"He changed many things but he needs time to put his ideas through the players and on the pitch. It takes time but I believe that he is going to do a good job.
"We know we don’t play the best football, as we should do, but we have many games to improve.
"Since he arrived I think in some points we are better, but he needs time.”
United return to action on Saturday evening against Aston Villa.