This article was originally written in 2016
The worst thing for Brazilian Ronaldo's legacy was the emergence of another superstar called Ronaldo.
Even Alex Ferguson, himself loyal to the newer Ronaldo, grinningly referred to Brazilian Ronaldo as "fat Ronaldo." This would be the same fat man who once destroyed his team in a Champions League quarter-final in Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has bravely reminded the world of what a fine player Brazilian Ronaldo was in his time. Not only that, he believes he was the superior Ronaldo. Or at least, he asserts he was the more naturally talented Ronaldo.
Of course, he may have been tailoring his message for the audience. Zlatan was speaking to ESPN Brazil when he made the comments.
I think Ronaldo, Il Fenomeno, was the best
He was an example of what football is. Everything he did was like 'wow'. The way he dribbled, the way he ran.
Ronaldo was natural, he was born to be what he was. It was not something he trained to become. This type of player is not made, he is born. He is unique.
Cristiano, meanwhile, is a mere workhorse (we exaggerate). But still, Ibrahimovic's point is that Cristiano is a talent that was made rather than born.
"It is different because he is the result of hard training. It is not natural," he says.
This assessment is backed up, in part, by Alex Ferguson's verdict.
Fergie is fiercely devoted to Cristiano and has dubbed him the special footballer of his generation following the Euro 2016 final. The inference being that he was better than Messi.
But Ferguson did attribute this largely to hard work. He said that during his time, no player had developed his talent in training better than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whether Cristiano will appreciate the portrait of him as a slogger who transformed himself into one of the world's best players through hard graft is another question.
