“Like when you pick between your father and mother” - Luis Figo responds when asked to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario
Luis Figo refused to pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario when asked to choose between the Real Madrid legends. He claimed that it was similar to deciding between parents and would have picked one leg of each instead.
Speaking to Shoot for Love earlier this month, Figo claimed that he was not going to pick better Ronaldo. He said that it was a difficult choice and that he was not going to take the call. He said via Sport Bible:
"It is difficult, like when you pick between your father and mother it is difficult. To pick between Cristiano and Ronaldo... maybe I can pick one leg off each?"
Figo also took a similar stance when he was asked to choose between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He claimed that both were the best in the world and told the media in 2017 via Goal:
"They are both the best in the world. It is always difficult to choose one of them and say he is the best. In the end Ronaldo and Messi are the ones who have been winning all the individual awards in the world of football and that says it all about their tremendous individual talent as footballers. I would never choose between them."
Luis Figo played 23 matches with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Portugal national team and the two combined for four goals. He never played with Lionel Messi but played 164 matches with Ronaldo Nazario for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo was honored to inherit Luis Figo's Portugal shirt
Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the media when he was handed the #7 jersey at Manchester United and said that he was honored to get the shirt. He claimed that the number was special at Old Trafford but it was bigger for him as it was the same number as his idol Luis Figo.
He said via Sky Sports:
"I know the number seven shirt has a great tradition at United and anyone would be proud to wear it. For me, though, it is extra special because it is also Luis Figo's number. When I was growing up in Portugal, Figo wore the seven of Sporting Lisbon. Like any kid with dreams of being a footballer, I wanted to be Figo. I wanted to wear the number seven."
"Everyone has been telling me about George Best, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona, and it does fill me with pride to be following in their footsteps. But there is more to it than people in England may realise. My close friend Quaresma wears seven at Barcelona, and I have been handed the same number at United. We can both now say we have made a boyhood dream come true."
Cristiano Ronaldo wore the #7 shirt at Manchester United in both of his spells at the club. He started with the #9 at Real Madrid but got his favorite number after Raul left Santiago Bernabeu.