Messi crowns Ronaldo Nazario greatest striker, ditches Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi named Ronaldo Nazario, not Cristiano Ronaldo, as the greatest goalscorer of all time.

"Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenon. Of the strikers I've seen, for me he was the best. An impressive player from any aspect,” Messi said in an old interview, as quoted by El Futbolero US online portal.

Messi’s praise for “The Phenomenon” affirms his lack of endorsement for Ronaldo, his former La Liga rival now at Al Nasir.

Messi and Ronaldo battled for years for the world’s leading scorer title, while playing for two Spanish club giants and rivals, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Their competition electrifies fans for over a decade and counting, with Messi netting 803 career goals, Ronaldo 832, according to stats presented by Goal.com on March 29, 2023, and Ronaldo Nazario 443.

Though injuries halted Ronaldo Nazario’s time at the top, he won 2 World Cups and 1 Champions League, scoring over 400 goals for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.

His effortless style and talent moved Messi to rank him above even his long-time nemesis Ronaldo. "The Phenomenon” relied more on instinct than diligent practice like Messi and Ronaldo showed.

Still, assessing the 3 as possible “greatest ever” relies fact, not opinion. Messi’s tribute honors Ronaldo Nazario’s gifts, not their friendship.

It suggests admiration for natural skill over rivalry. At 35 and 38, Messi and Ronaldo's primes nearing end, debates over their place in history will continue based on hard numbers, not platitudes.

Ronaldo Nazario’s influence may grow as theirs fades. But for now, Messi credits not his former foe, but a boyhood idol, as the standard by which all strikers are measured.

The thinking fan’s case for “greatest of all time” comes down to which among Messi, Ronaldo, and the “Phenomenon” stands alone atop the summit of goalscoring greatness and impact.

Records attest they rank among the best, but one silver fox’s subjective praise is all that exalts any above the rest.