Former Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has surprised the footballing world by snubbing football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, choosing Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario as the best footballer ever.
Despite having shared the pitch with Messi during their time together at Barcelona, Sanchez opted for the Brazilian Ronaldo as his top pick.
The Chilean international praised Ronaldo Nazario’s unique playing style, recalling moments when the Brazilian’s skills left a lasting impression.
“Ronaldo, the Phenomenon for me, is the world number one. I have played with many strong players, I have seen Messi and Ronaldo up close, but he is something else. When he made that fake and went at a mile an hour, it was incredible, a beautiful thing to see in football,” said Sanchez.
While acknowledging that he never played alongside Ronaldo, the Arsenal former Inter Milan player faced the Real Madrid icon 17 times during his career.
Sanchez’s choice, Ronaldo Nazario is a legendary figure in football who made 455 senior team appearances in club football, scoring 289 goals and providing 76 assists. He secured numerous honours, including La Liga titles and two Ballon d’Or awards.
Meanwhile, in his remarks at a media gathering organized by Santander Bank in 2021, Ronaldo Nazario included Messi and Ronaldo alongside Pele and Maradona as the top four players in the history of football.