The controversy over who actually deserves the title of the best soccer participant of all time continues to divide opinions. Whereas many level to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as the apparent candidates, former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn disagrees.
Kahn, who spent practically 20 years on the prime of the sport from 1987 to his retirement in 2008, confronted lots of the best soccer gamers throughout his illustrious profession and he believes the Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario stands above all of them.
When it got here to picking one of the best of all time, his reply was clear. “For me, Ronaldo was significantly better than Messi and Cristiano,” Kahn as soon as mentioned. “I nonetheless contemplate him probably the most full participant of all time. The Brazilian was one of the best participant I’ve ever seen.”
Kahn’s reverence for Ronaldo seemingly stems from his firsthand expertise in the course of the 2002 FIFA World Cup ultimate, the place Ronaldo’s brace sealed Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany.
Ronaldo Nazario scores the primary objective for Brazil the primary objective previous goalkeeper Oliver Kahn of Germany in the course of the World Cup Ultimate. (Tim De Waele/Getty Photos)
That unforgettable efficiency earned Ronaldo the Golden Boot and cemented his place as one of many sport’s all-time greats. Kahn, who performed in that match, has typically credited Ronaldo’s distinctive mixture of pace, ability, and ending as unparalleled in soccer historical past.
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Kahn identifies Filippo Inzaghi as his hardest opponent
Whereas Kahn considers Ronaldo Nazario the best, he admitted that his most irritating opponent was a unique type of striker—AC Milan legend Filippo Inzaghi. Identified for his uncanny capability to attain regardless of restricted aptitude, Inzaghi continuously troubled Kahn all through their careers.
“Ronaldo was one of the best, however the one who irritated me probably the most was Inzaghi,” Kahn revealed. “He wasn’t a brilliant champion, however he all the time scored towards me. All the time. It was so irritating.”
The stats again it up: Inzaghi confronted Kahn and Bayern Munich 5 occasions, scoring six targets. Kahn’s frustration with the Italian striker displays simply how efficient Inzaghi was in entrance of objective, even towards elite goalkeepers.
Ronaldo Nazario: The striker who redefined greatness
Ronaldo Nazario’s profession set a brand new customary for heart forwards. His mixture of pure expertise, explosive pace, and scientific ending left an indelible mark on the game. For Kahn and lots of others, Ronaldo stays the definitive striker and one in all soccer best gamers.
Ronaldo’s journey noticed him shine at golf equipment like Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Actual Madrid, and Corinthians, in addition to for the Brazilian nationwide crew. He gained two World Cups (1994 and 2002) and reached the ultimate in 1998. Throughout his profession, Ronaldo performed 624 matches, scoring 420 targets and offering 128 assists, a testomony to his extraordinary affect on the sport.
