By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Zinedine Zidane has lavished praise on former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo Nazário, branding him a “phenomenon” and one of the most remarkable talents he has ever shared a dressing room with, both in ability and personality. The celebrated French legend also revisited his own defining career moment, his iconic volley in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final in Glasgow, which he said completed his trophy collection.
Speaking in a recent sit-down interview, where he recounted moments from his illustrious time at Real Madrid CF, Zidane emphasised the indelible impact Ronaldo had on teammates and observers alike. He said the Brazilian’s brilliance was not just evident in games but was especially clear in training, where “every day you saw something new, something beautiful.”
“Ronaldo was the best player I ever played with,” Zidane said, adding that beyond his elite technical ability, Ronaldo’s presence drew admiration: “Only great players like him can do that, you’d stop and watch.”
The former Real Madrid playmaker and manager also reflected on his own career highlight: his stunning left-foot volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final in Glasgow, a strike that helped secure Europe’s premier club honour for Madrid. Zidane joked about its significance, noting that scoring that goal fulfilled his ambition to win the Champions League, “not bad, right?”, and was the one major title that had eluded him until that night.
The interview provided fresh insight into the mutual respect and fondness between two of football’s most iconic figures. Zidane’s remarks underscore Ronaldo’s enduring legacy as both a generational talent and a teammate whose extraordinary skill and joyous spirit left a lasting impression.
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