Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario admits that his admiration for Lionel Messi ’s success saw him set aside his nation’s rivalry with Argentina after their South American rivals won the World Cup.
Messi scored twice in Argentina’s remarkable World Cup final victory over France and also found the net in the dramatic penalty shootout at the end of the encounter. It ensured Argentina lifted the trophy for the first time since 1986 and became the first South American nation to win the competition since Brazil’s success in 2002.
Brazil were dumped out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage after suffering a penalty shootout defeat by Croatia and after that outcome, Ronaldo spoke of his openness to set aside the rivalry between the two South American giants in the closing games of the tournaments.
