Brazil icon Ronaldo was handed the task of naming his best XI of all time and including himself alongside a list of glittering former teammates and opponents that he has faced
Brazil hero Ronaldo has named a jaw-dropping world XI that includes some of the best players in the history of football.
The 47-year-old enjoyed a hugely-successful career up until his retirement in 2011. Having played for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, he won La Liga, the UEFA Cup and a whole host of other trophies.
The 98-time Brazil international also twice won the World Cup with the South American nation, while he also reached another final. During his playing career, he played with some of the world’s best and has been asked to name his all-time XI.
He selected Brazil teammates Cafu, Roberto Carlos and arguably one of the best players of all time in Pele. Modern stars such as Lionel Messi and his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo also earned a spot.
Speaking with Mail Sport, the iconic former forward said: “Goalkeeper: Buffon, Gigi Buffon. Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos. Zidane, Maradona. What else? I’ll see. Pele. So Messi on the right, I’ll put myself in the middle and Cristiano Ronaldo on the left.”
Strangely, Ronaldo has spoken out on some of the best players of all time in the past, some of which have been left out of his ultimate XI, including Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Marco van Bastern.
Speaking in January, he said: “I think there is a very, very special group. Where you have Diego (Maradona), (Lionel) Messi, (Johan) Cruyff, (Franz) Beckenbauer, Pele, (Marco) 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.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were both named in Ronaldo’s all-time XI (
Getty Images)
“People call me original Ronaldo but there were others – and they weren’t false. I’m not the only one and more will come along and be better than me, in everything.
“I did what I could, the best I could. I’m doing other things now, important things, and I want to keep improving myself. As a footballer I can’t do any more now.”
While Portuguese forward Ronaldo has been named in his namesake’s XI, he has endured frustration over recent days. His Al-Nassr side failed to reach the Asian Champions League semi-finals.
The Saudi side were 1-0 down Al Ain after the first-leg but rallied to win the second-leg 4-3. Ronaldo missed a golden chance from close range but did manage to score a stoppage-time penalty to take the game into a penalty shootout. Only the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star scored his effort as Al-Nassr slumped to a 3-1 defeat.
Ronaldo’s ultimate XI: Buffon; Carlos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Cafu; Zidane, Maradona, Pele; C. Ronaldo, Messi, Ronaldo N.
