In the wake of Pele’s passing, Brazil’s national team played their first international match. Dutch forward, candidly discusses his La Liga experience and weighs in on the Cristiano-Messi debate. 

Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes expresses his deep respect for the prestigious No. 10 jersey of the Brazilian national team, alongside the revered Pele shirt, considering it a tremendous honor.

In their first international match following Pele’s passing, Selecao suffered a 2-1 defeat to Morocco on Saturday.

Rodrygo expressed his hopes for Pele’s well-being, stating, “Hopefully, he’s doing well. To honor everything he did, we are going to run for him here,” during a pre-game news conference.

Acknowledging Pele’s monumental legacy, Rodrygo emphasized, “We are aware that today we are known thanks to him.”

Following a battle with cancer, the iconic Brazilian footballer, revered as the greatest in the nation’s history, passed away on December 29 last year at the age of 82. Renowned for leading the Selecao to victory in three World Cups, he holds a special place in the hearts of Brazilians.

“We had a great conversation at his place before I traveled to Real Madrid. I had already been admiring him before we met, and I became even more so after that chat,” Rodrygo reflected.

Highlighting his connection to Santos, where both Pele and Neymar honed their skills, Rodrygo emphasized that, as a former academy member, he feels privileged to continue their legacy by donning the number 10 shirt for the national team.

One of the best strikers in Europe, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, has showcased his goal-scoring ability against both Manchester United and Real Madrid. Upon joining Real Madrid in 2006, he swiftly established himself and became close friends with all of Ramon Calderon’s relatives.

Van Nistelrooy outshone all other scorers during his time with the club, contributing significantly to Real Madrid’s successful campaign. Throughout his career at the club, he secured championship titles and triumphed in the European Championship.

Overlap discussed his time in Madrid before being hailed as one of the greatest professionals of all time with PSV’s life coach.

“I negotiated contracts with [Karim] Benzema, Ronaldo, and Kaka when I was with Pallagriži [the manager]; there’s always room for negotiation. I’m 33, small in stature, but highly motivated.”

“In 2010, I made the decision to head to Hamburg to engage in the World Cement project. It was a choice I had to make. I knew I couldn’t miss out on Madrid; that would have been the biggest mistake of my career. Besides, now isn’t the right time to even consider it.”

“Ferguson, Joaquín, and Cristiano: dedicated to excellence.”

The authenticity of Messi and Cristiano’s praise for Ronaldo’s excellence, evident in their statement “I am confident that Ronaldo is excellent; I have played with him,” is further underscored by Ronaldo’s illustrious history at Madrid.

Moreover, while at another La Liga team, he shared his life experiences with his friend Joaquín, mentioning, “I played alongside my brother in Malaga.” Anź emerges as a conventional figure known for his consistent performance, humor, and wit.

Lastly, he paid little regard to Ferguson, his former trainer at Manchester United, affirming that “Alex Ferguson is the greatest coach ever.” Having spent five years under Ferguson’s tutelage at United, he dismissed any other training sessions, asserting, “You’re the best so far.” Datchma, his sibling, readily concurred.