What kind of ability are we talking about? I'm presuming it's not mental ability, so that leaves physical and technical. Ronaldinho boasted the most impressive technical portfolio, but Brazilian Ronaldo married the physical and technical better than anyone - no one else could do what he did at the pace he operated at.
Comparing the three Ronaldos
- Thread starter Luke1995
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Ronaldinho has two girlfriends living together in peace. That makes him the GOAT.
There is no debate to be had here, Cristiano is number 1, whether you like him or not. The other 2 must just be glad he was born in Portugal and not in Brazil. And to be honest as soon as I read the OP I knew he was a Cristiano hater. Cristiano belongs with Pele and Maradonna not with these two, and funnily enough they are 3 of my favourite Footballers ever.
Thread title should be the three Ronnies. If only Ronaldinho had actually been called Ronaldo. What a coincidence. Be like having 3 greats called Gascoigne.
Ronaldinho is the most talented free-styler — a part of the game when you only need your skills with the ball.
Ronaldo is the most talented footballer — combining incredible technique with superhuman pace.
Cristiano is slightly behind the two in those components, but he's without the doubt the most talented off-the-ball, if it makes sense (both in terms of his movement & tactical understanding and also mentality, dedication, health etc.).
Ronaldo is the most talented footballer — combining incredible technique with superhuman pace.
Cristiano is slightly behind the two in those components, but he's without the doubt the most talented off-the-ball, if it makes sense (both in terms of his movement & tactical understanding and also mentality, dedication, health etc.).
His name is literally Ronaldo de Assis Moreira.
Luis Ronaldo was called Ronaldinho when he first broke through to the Brazil's NT because there was an older Ronaldo on the team.
So it really is incredible. Can only assume it's as common a name across tje Portuguese speaking world as Dave.
Pretty much. I've added that Luis Ronaldo was also called Ronaldinho earlier, because there was... yet another Ronaldo playing for Brazil's Olympic team (Ronaldo Guiaro).
Wonder why that Ronaldo went the Ronaldinho route
Based on talent alone, Brazilian Ronaldo is probably only second to Messi.
But if i'm building a team to win, C. Ronaldo is the first name on the team sheet.
Ultimately, its a matter of opinion, but id go with C. Ronaldo > L. Ronaldo >>>> Ronaldinho
But if i'm building a team to win, C. Ronaldo is the first name on the team sheet.
Ultimately, its a matter of opinion, but id go with C. Ronaldo > L. Ronaldo >>>> Ronaldinho
Parents should all name their unborn Ronaldo. It's like a divine right that a kid who carries that name will end up being a world class footballer.
It's customary, since he was the younger one. "Ronaldinho" is basically "a little Ronaldo".
Technical skills and precision : Ronaldinho
Goalscoring instinct : Ronaldo
Power, speed, mentality : C. Ronaldo
C. Ronaldo still the best out of the three in my opinion. Football cyborg.
Goalscoring instinct : Ronaldo
Power, speed, mentality : C. Ronaldo
C. Ronaldo still the best out of the three in my opinion. Football cyborg.
Awesome stuff. Now I know what it takes to be on staff
It's insane why Romário keeps getting overlooked in these kind of threads, when he also start partying too soon but he was a beast in terms of shooting technique. His finishing was superb, only needing a few chances to nick them in.
R9
1996-99 pre injury is the best I have ever seen a player. He did things with the ball we had never seen before, blackbelt nutmeg-master, a total beast physically and he had an X-factor never seen before or after. Created an unmatched atmosphere in the arenas. Pure magic at his peak and my GOAT (even though his peak was only for 2,5 seasons)
CR7
Machine! Fantastic goalscorer and a physical beast. The goat when in it comes to professionality in his sport. Not even close to R9 when it comes to natural talent and x-factor. Lacks charm and gives you a plastic feeling somehow.
Ronaldinho
Definitely had the x-factor. Fantastic player who was fun to watch, but no GOAT material. Not even top 5 for me.
My top 5 ever list:
R9
Messi
Maradona
CR7
Platini
Never watched enough of Pele, Cruyff or other players with peak pre 1980 to put any of them up there.
1996-99 pre injury is the best I have ever seen a player. He did things with the ball we had never seen before, blackbelt nutmeg-master, a total beast physically and he had an X-factor never seen before or after. Created an unmatched atmosphere in the arenas. Pure magic at his peak and my GOAT (even though his peak was only for 2,5 seasons)
CR7
Machine! Fantastic goalscorer and a physical beast. The goat when in it comes to professionality in his sport. Not even close to R9 when it comes to natural talent and x-factor. Lacks charm and gives you a plastic feeling somehow.
Ronaldinho
Definitely had the x-factor. Fantastic player who was fun to watch, but no GOAT material. Not even top 5 for me.
My top 5 ever list:
R9
Messi
Maradona
CR7
Platini
Never watched enough of Pele, Cruyff or other players with peak pre 1980 to put any of them up there.
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1.Messi
2. Maradonna
3.Ronaldo
4. Ronaldo
5. Ronaldiniho
On a serious note original Ronaldo for me
2. Maradonna
3.Ronaldo
4. Ronaldo
5. Ronaldiniho
On a serious note original Ronaldo for me
I didn't really watch Ronaldo at his peak but reading about him he appears to be one of those genuinely other worldly talents like Messi/Maradona, so I imagine I'd have gone for him if I followed his whole career.
Injuries alone won’t make one get so fat though. L.Ronaldo is super talented and unlucky with injuries, but his lack of dedication are one of reasons making him grow so fat in his late career and being inconsistent throughout. Same applies to Ronaldinho who decline so fast after he is reaching his late 20s.
Cristiano for longevity and success.
Ronaldo for National team success and an astonishing early career with so many records broken by 21/22.
Ronaldinho for aesthetics, enjoyment and unpredictability.
Ronaldo for National team success and an astonishing early career with so many records broken by 21/22.
Ronaldinho for aesthetics, enjoyment and unpredictability.
You're being silly not putting Pele or Garrincha top 5
Edit. Just saw the white text. Curious about your serious list
This. Brazilian Ronaldo was an absolute force of nature, he is without comparison when it comes to combining athleticism and technical ability.
Watching videos of him in his prime feels like you are watching in fast forward, he made players look like donkeys. Incredible player.
I believe Brazilian Ronaldo’s ceiling was a touch higher than Cristiano.
That said, Cristiano is probably my favourite player of all time, mostly because we were lucky enough to have him here at United. He is perhaps the most consistently brilliant player there has ever been (let’s see how Messi finishes up when they’ve retired.) His records speak for themselves.
Cristiano has the most amazing desire to win and keep winning, never once has he taken his foot off the gas in his career, I love him for that.
I love Ronaldinho, he was possibly the most entertaining player to watch of the three but I can’t really compare him with the two Ronaldo’s - they are two of the all time great match winners.
Of the two Ronaldo’s I would pick Cristiano as a permanent signing however I would pick peak Brazilian Ronaldo in a one off game. That’s the only way I can describe my comparison of the two.
Depends how you measure things.
Playing hypotheticals if someone said you can have one in your team for the long haul then obviously the answer is CR7.
However if I was told I can have one on loan for a month and they're in their prime and fully fit then without thinking twice I go for R9.
Playing hypotheticals if someone said you can have one in your team for the long haul then obviously the answer is CR7.
However if I was told I can have one on loan for a month and they're in their prime and fully fit then without thinking twice I go for R9.
Agree with what some of the others have already said...
- Fenómeno was the fiercest combination of overpowering pace + power + dribbling ability + technique since Eusébio (who terrorized continental defenses on his own in the '60s and forced them to refine their methods), and the middle point between Cristiano's efficiency and Gaucho's flamboyance. Maldini, Nesta, Desailly — didn't matter who he faced, he would invariably give some of the best defenders of all time one the sternest matchups of their careers. Arguably the best striker of all time (or at least in the conversation with Müller and Van Basten), and someone who could shine in any team/setup.
- Gaucho was an elite playmaker on the ball at his peak, and had the best technical skill set of the three — though I don't think he was as good as a Messi in these departments or as a team-player, people tend to overstate his abilities because of his uniquely exaggerated futsal-inspired style with tricks and flicks (which often made him look sexier on the ball than others who could do the same in a much more efficient way) and happy-go-lucky nature.
- Cristiano isn't as outwardly talented as the aforementioned duo (not a dig at him because margins are extremely fine at this level), which makes him a bit more dependent on the team in a mutually beneficial relationship, but you have to admire him more because he extracted the absolute maximum out of his skill set with his unerring commitment to football over 2 decades, godlike determination, ability to keep things simple and composed (a very understated aspect) and tactical appreciation of the game as a forward. And of course, in terms of career accomplishments and statistical feats, he blows both of them out of the water (especially Gaucho).
I would pay to see Ronaldinho play. He is an entertainer. Cristiano was pure athlete and obviously much more dedicated professionally. So ability wise to me it has to be Ronaldinho.
He can do things the other two can only dream. He also plays with a smile on his face.
He can do things the other two can only dream. He also plays with a smile on his face.
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Brazilian Ronaldo is the best player in my opinion - he was unbelievable. As much as I also loved watching Ronaldinho for his flair and skill - C Ronaldo outshines him in terms of career and just his incredible determination and skill to remain at the very top for most of his career.
Entertainment/Showboating/Skill- Ronaldinho> Cristiano> Ronaldo
Speed- Cristiano> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Physicality- Ronaldo> Cristiano> Ronaldinho
Dribbling- Ronaldo> Ronaldinho> Cristiano
Heading- Cristiano>>> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Ambidexterity- Cristiano> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most explosive player I've ever seen especially in his prime, he's not as physical as R9 when on the ball, especially because of how tall he is which obviously affects his balance, but, when in full flight in the days at United, he couldn't be brought down...if you went hard on the tackle, then you'd concede a frerkick or even cards.
Cristiano is the most explosive player ever and among the three, Ronaldinho is the most entertaining player I've ever seen...a pure joy to watch, Ronaldo was very solid on the ball and was hardly brought down, plus, even though I was never a fan of his style of dribbling, he was the most straightforward/business-minded dribbler among the three akin to messi.
I just happened to prefer the showboaters more, that's why entertainment-wise, Ronaldinho and a younger Cristiano comes first before Ronaldo
Speed- Cristiano> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Physicality- Ronaldo> Cristiano> Ronaldinho
Dribbling- Ronaldo> Ronaldinho> Cristiano
Heading- Cristiano>>> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Ambidexterity- Cristiano> Ronaldo> Ronaldinho
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most explosive player I've ever seen especially in his prime, he's not as physical as R9 when on the ball, especially because of how tall he is which obviously affects his balance, but, when in full flight in the days at United, he couldn't be brought down...if you went hard on the tackle, then you'd concede a frerkick or even cards.
Cristiano is the most explosive player ever and among the three, Ronaldinho is the most entertaining player I've ever seen...a pure joy to watch, Ronaldo was very solid on the ball and was hardly brought down, plus, even though I was never a fan of his style of dribbling, he was the most straightforward/business-minded dribbler among the three akin to messi.
I just happened to prefer the showboaters more, that's why entertainment-wise, Ronaldinho and a younger Cristiano comes first before Ronaldo
I absolutely loved Romario - incredible player.
Original Ronaldo was something else. He really was.
To be fair if this thread is about who the better player is, it’s not even close and worth any discussion. To make it more comparable for discussion sake, OP has to make some specific rules in a way to favour the other 2 and make it closer call (most talented in pure footballing ability during their peak, regardless of how long/short their peak are/ consistency/ longetivity/ mental aspect/ broader aspect of the game etc).
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Cristiano is miles ahead of those 2. It's not even close. His best season is better than anything they've done. His output better than r9 by a mile.
Ronaldinho was entertaining but nowhere near the other 2 in terms of delivering.
I never thought I'd see a better footballer than r9 which is why we are blessed to see two players this generation miles ahead of what he ever was.
Ronaldinho was entertaining but nowhere near the other 2 in terms of delivering.
I never thought I'd see a better footballer than r9 which is why we are blessed to see two players this generation miles ahead of what he ever was.
I wouldn't claim to know who was honestly the better of the three. R9 is one of my all - time favourite players though, so I'd always go for him and honestly I loved watching Ronaldinho in action probably more than Cristiano too.
I'm upset about this
Before his injury, for a very short 2 years or so, he belongs to Messi/Maradona tier of talent, and looks likely to challenge Pele/Maradona throne of GOAT.
But after his injury, for rest of his long career, he can only claim himself same tier as Henry/Ruud/Shevchenko, or slightly behind, I thought he is not as good as these 3 at times (especially at club level)
The best and greatest one is undoubtedly and unquestionably Cristiano Ronaldo.
Though if we are talking strictly on natural ability then R9 is first for sure.
Though if we are talking strictly on natural ability then R9 is first for sure.
Not many people did watch him. It was hard to watch back then. I never saw him with PSV, there was an obscure channel on the early days of Sky TV which showed La Liga, then you had only highlights of Serie A on a Sunday morning. It was only when he went to Madrid that it became easier to watch him play every week.
That's why you always take with a pinch of salt when people talk about him. Even if they're old enough most won't have watched much of him outside of World Cups - the same applies to lots of players of that era.
The Ronaldo when fit was untouchable. Completely different level shit. Like he was playing another bloody game to everyone else on the pitch.
Best/Greatest - C.Ronaldo
Most talented - L.Ronaldo
Most entertaining - Ronaldinho
Most talented - L.Ronaldo
Most entertaining - Ronaldinho
But seriously. Ronaldo at 20 was one of the 10 best players ever. At 20, he was better than Platini, Zidane, Zico, Romario, Van Basten, etc etc.
He was genuinely if not as good than at least very close to Messi and Cristiano at their best
At 20 years old...
There's really no question who was the most talented and gifted of the 3
He was genuinely if not as good than at least very close to Messi and Cristiano at their best
At 20 years old...
There's really no question who was the most talented and gifted of the 3
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best of the 3 for me on a full size pitch. Nothing more to be said about his career. Probably the least entertaining player to watch at least as a number 9 of the 3.
Ronaldinho was the most entertaining but probably least effective of the 3. You can tell he played on the beach a lot as a kid the way he could flick the ball around at will. Great player who would have been the best 5 a side player ever imo.
R9 was the best finisher one on one with the keeper. Slotting the ball in the bottom corner at will. He also beat the offside trap better than any player I’ve ever seen consistently.
Ronaldinho was the most entertaining but probably least effective of the 3. You can tell he played on the beach a lot as a kid the way he could flick the ball around at will. Great player who would have been the best 5 a side player ever imo.
R9 was the best finisher one on one with the keeper. Slotting the ball in the bottom corner at will. He also beat the offside trap better than any player I’ve ever seen consistently.