Does Ronaldo (the real one) get the recognition he deserves?

[artetas_biggest_fan]

Been watching loads of vids of the 'real' Ronaldo (as Jose Mourinho called him) in his prime (not the fat, podgy version in the 2000s). I remember watching him when he was at Barca where he tore the league apart, then at Inter (Serie A every Sunday on Channel 4) and again he was awesome. He was the same for Brazil, looked untouchable from any other player in the world. I equated him to Michael Jordan at the time. Ronaldo is still the greatest forward I've seen.

With the arrival of Cristiano, does the original Ronaldo get the proper recognition he deserves? All this talk of Ronaldo (Cristiano) versus Messi as the greatest (modern era), plus the name recognition now usually referring to the Portuguese player, I get the feeling he doesn't. Many who do remember Ronaldo invariably remember the fat version he became post knee injuries..he was still good then (World Cup top scorer in 2002, hat-trick at Old Trafford in 2003) but not at 70% of what he was before...they don't realise how unbelievable he was in his prime. Heres him at his peak



As great an athelete and goal machine Cristaino is, I wouldn't put him in the same class as a prime Ronaldo, who could do things with the ball Cristiano couldn't dream off. I don't think you could label Cristiano a genius the way you could the Brazilian.

 

[Professor Toffee]

Been watching loads of vids of the 'real' Ronaldo (as Jose Mourinho called him) in his prime (not the fat, podgy version in the 2000s). I remember watching him when he was at Barca where he tore the league apart, then at Inter (Serie A every Sunday on Channel 4) and again he was awesome. He was the same for Brazil, looked untouchable from any other player in the world. I equated him to Michael Jordan at the time. Ronaldo is still the greatest forward I've seen.

With the arrival of Cristiano, does the original Ronaldo get the proper recognition he deserves? All this talk of Ronaldo (Cristiano) versus Messi as the greatest (modern era), plus the name recognition now usually referring to the Portuguese player, I get the feeling he doesn't. Many who do remember Ronaldo invariably remember the fat version he became post knee injuries..he was still good then (World Cup top scorer in 2002, hat-trick at Old Trafford in 2003) but not at 70% of what he was before...they don't realise how unbelievable he was in his prime. Heres him at his peak



As great an athelete and goal machine Cristaino is, I wouldn't put him in the same class as a prime Ronaldo, who could do things with the ball Cristiano couldn't dream off. I don't think you could label Cristiano a genius the way you could the Brazilian.

What he needed was a first name

 

[ijjysmith]

From those of us from a certain generation he certainly does.

But these young 'uns didn't get to see him when he was just absolutely unreal.

 

[Bungle]

I loved him, the 98 World Cup Final stuff was all a bit weird though.

 

[B17BLG]

I remember when he had his own Nike football boots. R98's or something!

 

[Blue Cheese]

No which is really strange as he's one of the best strikers ever to play the sport, how much pressure was on him to lead Brazil to glory in '98, I've never seen anything like it before or since. Superb player an absolute boss slotter.

Even fat Ronaldo would outscore most of today's forwards, he was scary good that lad.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think something that sets both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi apart is that they've largely been injury free during their careers. Zidane was largely the same. By contrast, Ronaldo effectively missed 4 seasons during his time at Inter, and it changed him as a player during his formative years. Hard to say how he would have been without those injuries, but those early years at Barca and Inter suggested someone very special indeed.

 

[John23]

The greatest Brazilian forward ever was Romario. Ronaldo doesn't even come close.

 

[jackyboy]

What about Edmundo?!

 

[COYBL25]

I think something that sets both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi apart is that they've largely been injury free during their careers. Zidane was largely the same. By contrast, Ronaldo effectively missed 4 seasons during his time at Inter, and it changed him as a player during his formative years. Hard to say how he would have been without those injuries, but those early years at Barca and Inter suggested someone very special indeed.

Spot on.
I also think in today's world, there'd be a very real possibility that he'd have been diagnosed and treated for mental health problems as result of the effect of those injuries on him - that weird World Cup final for instance.

 

[SteRobbo84]

The greatest Brazilian forward ever was Romario. Ronaldo doesn't even come close.

Incorrect...

 

[Ashtonian]

I remember back when ea sports never had the rights to his name and just called him number 9

 

[Deleted member 28206]

My favourite photo.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I'm sure anyone old enough to remember him in his pomp will recognise him as one of the best of his generation

 

[ToffeeDan]

Unfortunately he is known as "Fat Ronaldo" whereas we should just call CR "Posing Ronaldo" or indeed "Number 2" (especially when he curls one out.... of the keeper's reach and into the target) with the original being called Ronaldo or OR (for Original Ronaldo) or WCR - World Cup Ronaldo.