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Preview data: all rankings, scores, votes, refresh labels, methodology, testing and editorial-process statements in Top 49 are illustrative demo content, not live measurements or documented reviews.
Rank 081Up 1
#8 in Footballers of All Time
of 20 ranked entries
Ronaldo Nazário
Forward · Brazil · 1993–2011
Won the Golden Boot and the 2002 World Cup itself, scoring both goals in the final, in a redemption arc from the mysterious pre-match collapse that derailed his 1998 final four years earlier. Recorded specifics: position Forward, country Brazil, debut 1993. Panel highlighted scored both goals in the 2002 World Cup final, golden Boot winner with 8 goals at the same tournament and two Ballon d’Or awards either side of two career-altering knee injuries. The reservation on record is two devastating knee injuries in 1999 and 2000 likely cost him his true peak.
World Cup winnerBallon d’Or winner
Score breakdown
How Ronaldo Nazário earned 86.5
Each criterion is scored independently, then combined using the weights published on Footballers of All Time.
- Individual brilliance & skillweight 30%
- 87.2
- Trophy & tournament successweight 25%
- 88.6
- Influence on how the game is playedweight 25%
- 84.3
- Peak dominance vs the era’s bestweight 20%
- 85.8
On the record
Recorded detail
| Position | Forward |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| Debut | 1993 |
| World Cups + Ballons d’Or | 3 |
| Rating | 9.0 |
Panel verdict
Strengths and reservations
What it gets right
- Scored both goals in the 2002 World Cup final
- Golden Boot winner with 8 goals at the same tournament
- Two Ballon d’Or awards either side of two career-altering knee injuries
Where it gives ground
- Two devastating knee injuries in 1999 and 2000 likely cost him his true peak
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Top 49 rankings are editorial. Scores are produced from the published criteria on each list and are refreshed on the cadence stated there. Figures shown across this section are curated demonstration data.