German icon Oliver Kahn named great foe Ronaldo Nazario as the most complete player in football history – even above legendary rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
German icon Oliver Kahn named great foe Ronaldo Nazario as the most complete player in football history – even above legendary rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo German icon Oliver Kahn named great foe Ronaldo Nazario as the most complete player in football history – even above legendary rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Oliver Kahn snubbed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he claimed Ronaldo Nazario is the greatest footballer of all time.
The GOAT debate has continued for years, with many believing that Messi’s 2022 World Cup win solidified the Argentinian as the best footballer to have ever graced the planet. However, Bayern Munich and German goalkeeping legend Kahn has a different opinion on who the best is.
The ‘keeper faced some lethal forwards in his career, but Ronaldo Nazario stood out as best he’s ever faced by far. He said: “For me, Ronaldo was much better than Messi and Cristiano. I still consider him the most complete player of all time. The Brazilian was the best player I have ever seen.”
Kahn had a hard time against the so-called original Ronaldo. The striker scored two goals past him in the 2002 World Cup final for Brazil as they beat Germany and secured their record-extending fifth title.
While Messi himself now has a World Cup, and Cristiano won the European Championship in 2016, the 55-year-old is adamant that the Brazilian beats them to the greatest of all time title.
Ronaldo Nazario made 481 professional appearances, scoring 309 goals and assisting 75 times. He won the Ballon D’or twice, two La Liga titles and two Copa Americas – as well as his World Cup triumph.
However, the Brazilian never won the Champions League trophy in his career – meanwhile Messi has four of these trophies, and Cristiano became the first player in history to win five.
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FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite Kahn labelling Ronaldo Nazario as the GOAT, he doesn’t believe the Brazilian is the most frustrating attacker he has ever faced. In fact, he noted that the most challenging forward was AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi.
The Italian forward, who won the World Cup and two Champions Leagues with Milan, made life difficult for Kahn. The legendary goalkeeper said: “Ronaldo was the best, but Inzaghi irritated me more. He wasn’t a super champion, but he always scored against me. Always. How annoying.”
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Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Kahn retired in 2008, while Inzaghi hung up his boots later in 2012 – and Ronaldo officially called it quits in 2011 after an injury-ridden end to his career.
Messi and Cristiano are still active in the sport to this day and continue to add to their legacies, although the greatest of all-time debate will likely divide opinion for the rest of time.
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