Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo once identified his greatest football idol, following the emergence of an old video from the early stages of his professional journey. In this footage, the Portuguese icon unexpectedly named Argentine hall-of-famer Diego Maradona as his favorite player to observe during his youth.
At the time of Ronaldo’s birth, Maradona was the standout player at Napoli, before returning to Argentina for the final years of his career.
Despite this, footage of his playing days has persisted, showcasing him as a prominent figure in 1980s football. This revelation led Ronaldo to declare Maradona as his idol, surprising many who anticipated that he would choose fellow record goalscorer, Pele.
There are not numerous significant distinctions between the two. Due to Ronaldo’s enduring competition with Lionel Messi, it is peculiar to witness the Portuguese legend acknowledge that his idol was the small Argentine figure – particularly considering that Maradona stood at only 5ft 5in, and also represented Real Madrid’s El Clasico adversaries Barcelona, in addition to Napoli – who have a certain rivalry with his previous club Juventus.
Ronaldo, in contrast, made a significant impact at Real Madrid, scoring 311 league goals in merely 292 La Liga matches, alongside a remarkable beginning to his tenure at United and an equally notable period with Juventus, before concluding his career in the Middle East with Al-Nassr.
However, despite the considerable contrasts, archival footage of Ronaldo at an awards ceremony has surfaced – featuring Red Devils legend Sir Alex Ferguson – where he identified Maradona as his idol.
He stated:Ronaldo is renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, having become the all-time leading goal-scorer in football history regarding official goals, in addition to holding the record for the most goals and assists in the Champions League, the highest number of international appearances and international goals, among other achievements.
Eager to extend his career for as long as feasible, Ronaldo may continue to play for several more seasons, having maintained peak physical condition throughout his later years – whereas Maradona’s health challenges off the field somewhat limited his exceptional career prematurely, particularly following a 15-month suspension from football due to a failed drug test.
Nevertheless, one undeniable fact is their ability to captivate fans worldwide.
Maradona was among the first global superstars, having emerged as the best in the world during the 1986 World Cup, becoming an icon at Barcelona and being recognized as Napoli’s greatest player, with their stadium named in his honor.
Ronaldo’s impact is equally significant, being one of Manchester United’s all-time greats, one of Real Madrid’s finest, if not the best – and undoubtedly the greatest in terms of influence on the national team.
There will likely always be a consensus that both players rank among the top five footballers of all time, with some placing Ronaldo higher and others favoring Maradona – although it remains somewhat peculiar to witness the 40-year-old forward naming Maradona as his idol, considering the differences in playing style, club rivalries, and career trajectories.