Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario are two of the best players to ever play the game, Thierry Henry responded very firmly when asked who the “Real Ronaldo” was earlier this year.
Ronaldo Nazario, a World Cup champion with Brazil in 2002, was simply terrifyingly superb in the late 1990s, stunning crowds at PSV and Barcelona with a special blend of crazy speed and precise finishing.
Inter Milan paid a record-breaking £25 million for the striker thanks to that electrifying form.
It was a significant sum of money at the time, but “R9” may have justified it because of his remarkable 47 goals in 49 games during his final season at Camp Nou.
Before suffering a ruptured tendon in his knee in April 2000, the Brazilian was equally productive in the early stages of his Inter career. After that, he was never quite the same player.
Ronaldo Nazario, however, was among the best ever to those who had the chance to experience him in his prime.
Cristiano Ronaldo, thankfully for the footballing world, had much better luck with injuries and has spent the majority of the last two decades as one of the greatest players in history.
Despite a significant decline in form recently, the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar is more than assured of his own place in history thanks to an absurd 819 career goals and five Ballon d’Or medals on his mantel.
The “Real Ronaldo,” according to Thierry Henry
In February, when Henry was a sports analyst for CBS Sports, he was vehement about who he thought was the “True Ronaldo.”
It all started when Henry‘s teammate Jamie Carragher enquired about his professional history regarding jersey swap requests.
“I did, indeed. Ronaldo. R9. Henry firmly responded, “The Real Ronaldo.”
The real one? Carragher responded in a tone of surprise.
How many Ronaldos did you know growing up, in my opinion? Henry used rhetorical analysis.
To call him the “True Ronaldo” now that Cristiano has arrived… Carragher started speaking before Henry interrupted.
Ronaldo is R9, the Frenchman revealed later. Cristiano Ronaldo is Cristiano.
Micah Richards couldn’t help but laugh off-camera, and Carragher soon joined him. Henry takes the subject so seriously.
Although not everyone may agree, Henry was adamant that this point could not be debated.
