'The Real Ronaldo'... Football icon on what it's really like to play against R9

EXCLUSIVE: Clinton Morrison has opened up about what going toe-to-toe with Ronaldo in an epic match was really like.

On a day he’ll never forget, the natural-born goal scorer walked out onto the field to take on some of the greatest players to have ever graced the game

Clinton Morrison discusses his experience playing against Ronaldo

Growing up, Clinton Morrison couldn’t get enough of Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, watching in awe as the mastermind glided through defenders like a knife through hot butter before smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Therefore, when the opportunity came to play against him in 2004, during an international friendly for the Republic of Ireland, the powerhouse was determined to produce the performance of a lifetime, which he did, earning Man of the Match in a 0-0 draw.

In an exclusive interview with Sporf via Free Bets, the 45-year-old reminisced: “It was a surreal experience. You’re playing against Brazil, and they’ve got players like R9 – the Real Ronaldo. Listen, Cristiano Ronaldo is top dog, but I always say the Real Ronaldo, because I’m a centre forward, and I loved R9 growing up. They had Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Kaka, the list went on and on. They were packed with superstars.”

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However, as brilliant as the game was, the ex-Crystal Palace star is still furious that one of his teammates missed a massive opportunity.

Morrison chuckled: “To get Man of the Match was great. The only thing that ruined it is that we should’ve won. I did ever so well down the line, crossed it, and Robbie Keane, who’s one of the best around, missed a header from four yards and put it over the bar—I couldn’t believe it.

“It was a great experience to play against such superstars, and hold Brazil, who were a proper team back then, to 0-0, is something you dream of as a kid, and to get Man of the Match and a bottle of champagne, it was a good day.”

Clinton Morrison battled it out with Robbie Keane to get Ronaldo’s shirt

While the war on the pitch meant the world to Morrison, the contest that occurred afterward was equally as significant. Knowing this was his chance, the icon desperately tried to get Ronaldo’s shirt. However, much to his dismay, Keane wanted it too.

He chuckled: “There was no chance I was going to get that. The advantage Robbie had is that he played for Inter Milan when Ronaldo did. He lived just below him, so he was always going to get that shirt. Hopefully, one day he gives me another one, maybe not Brazil, but Inter Milan.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty