33·Legends

Falcão vs Ronaldo Nazário

Brazil against Brazil. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.

Falcão

Falcão

Brazil · 1982–83 · CM

Almanac rating
93
Rank in Brazil
#9 of 33
Caps
28 · 6 goals
Clubs
S.C. Internacional, AS Roma, São Paulo

Sarrià, 5 July 1982: Júnior rolled the ball to him twenty yards from Italy's goal and he drove it in with his weaker foot for 2-2, six minutes before Paolo Rossi settled the tie and sent Brazil home. Rome crowned him its eighth king after the 1983 scudetto, and he also took three Brazilian titles with Internacional, two Coppa Italia, and the silver ball as second-best player of the 1982 World Cup. Career record: 28 caps and 6 goals for Brazil; club career at S.C. Internacional, AS Roma, São Paulo.

vs
RN

Ronaldo Nazário

Brazil · 1997–2002 · ST

Almanac rating
96
Rank in Brazil
#4 of 33
Caps
98 · 62 goals
Clubs
Inter Milan, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, S.C. Corinthians Paulista
Honours
Ballon d'Or 1997 · FIFA World Player of the Year 1996 · Golden Foot 2006

Kahn had barely conceded all tournament when he spilled Rivaldo's shot in Yokohama on 30 June 2002, and Ronaldo, two knee ruptures behind him, tucked in the rebound before adding a second twelve minutes later. That win came with eight goals, the Golden Boot and a second Ballon d'Or after 1997, and he also took the Copa América in 1997 and 1999, the UEFA Cup with Inter in 1998 and a then record 15 World Cup goals. Career record: 98 caps and 62 goals for Brazil; club career at Inter Milan, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, S.C. Corinthians Paulista; honours include Ballon d'Or 1997, FIFA World Player of the Year 1996, Golden Foot 2006.

The verdict

The almanac puts Ronaldo Nazário ahead by 3 rating points, 96 against 93.

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