Cristiano Ronaldo names his best XI of team-mates: No Casemiro or Varane…

Cristiano Ronaldo has picked out his best XI of team-mates from his illustrious career and former players from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus feature.

The Portuguese superstar has been lucky enough to play with plenty of big names over the years and as a result, he had to omit some pretty big names from his XI.

During an interview with Goal Arabia last year, these were the 11 team-mates that Ronaldo picked out to make his best XI.

GK: Iker Casillas

Despite omitting the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Keylor Navas and Gianluigi Buffon, you can hardly begrudge Ronaldo’s pick of Casillas in goal.

He spent six years playing alongside the Spanish goalkeeper at Real Madrid and the pair won seven trophies during their time together. Undoubtedly one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. It’s a strong start for Ronaldo’s XI.

RB: Sergio Ramos

During their peak years together, Real Madrid were mentality monsters at both ends of the pitch and it was largely thanks to Ramos and Ronaldo.

The versatile Spanish defender wore his heart on his sleeve and like Ronaldo, he always had a knack for coming up with a clutch moment.

Even to this day, Ramos is still up to his usual antics.

READ: We’re delighted to announce that Sergio Ramos has lost his f*cking marbles again

CB: Rio Ferdinand

Given the way that Ferdinand still talks about Ronaldo to this day, it’s clear the pair still have a good relationship. During their time at Old Trafford together, they got their hands on nine trophies.

“People never ever talk about Cristiano’s bravery,” Ferdinand told William Hill. “He was brave to take risks, which were to come over to another country, he was brave to remain the person he was – he didn’t change really.

“He adapted yes, but he didn’t change his core self and his foundations.”

CB: Giorgio Chiellini

The Italian defender was the only Juventus star to make Ronaldo’s XI. While the Portuguese forward never got his hands on the Champions League during his time in Turin, he did score a bucketload of goals.

In total, Ronaldo managed to score 101 goals in just three seasons with the club which is a truly remarkable return.

LB: Marcelo

Marcelo had a great bond with CR7 both on and off the pitch. The pair were absolutely formidable during their Real Madrid days and it comes as no surprise that he makes this XI.

“More than a team-mate, a brother that football gave me,” Ronaldo said on social media upon Marcelo’s departure from Real Madrid. “On and off the fields, one of the biggest stars with whom I had the pleasure of sharing a locker room.”

CM: Paul Scholes

Ronaldo spent his formative years playing alongside Scholes and the two players had great chemistry back in the day.

“I think I’ve been quite lucky to have played with a lot of top, top players. Cristiano has to be at the top now, purely for what he has done this season,” Scholes told reporters in 2008.

“To score the amount of goals he has done from his position has been nothing short of amazing. It is not just that – it’s his making of chances as well and the threat he poses to other teams.”

CM: Luka Modric

There seemed to be a bit of tension after Modric beat Ronaldo to the 2018 Ballon d’Or, but that all seems to be water under the bridge. There’s no denying the genius of the Croatian midfielder.

“I have a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and we’ll have a good relationship in the future too. Individual awards are important but I’m not obsessed with them,” Modric told reporters after winning the Ballon d’Or.

“Cristiano sent me a message, congratulated me and told me he is happy for me and I deserved it. He also said he can’t wait to meet me again.”

CM: Toni Kroos

Who else? To complete Ronaldo’s midfield three he opted for Kroos who he spent four years playing alongside at Real Madrid.

The German midfielder can sometimes be overlooked, perhaps because of the star-studded team he plays for, but there’s no denying his importance to the side.

RW: Gareth Bale

The Welsh winger broke Ronaldo’s record transfer fee upon his arrival at Real Madrid in 2013. With Bale on one flank and Ronaldo on the other, Real Madrid were a truly unstoppable force.

Ronaldo was also quick to come to Bale’s defence after the slow start he had made to life in Spain.

🗣"Leave him alone"

When Cristiano Ronaldo defended Gareth Bale after his first few months at Real Madrid! @GarethBale11 | @Cristiano pic.twitter.com/YTlxiiLYcE

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 15, 2020

ST: Karim Benzema

The French forward has assisted more goals for Ronaldo than any other player. At times Benzema even sacrificed his own output to ensure his team-mates were able to thrive.

After Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018, Benzema became the focal point of the side and managed to spearhead their 2021–22 Champions League winning campaign.

LW: Wayne Rooney

Possibly the most surprising pick in Ronaldo’s XI was Rooney as neither of them seemingly see eye-to-eye these days. Both players have taken digs at one another over the years, but perhaps that’s now water under the bridge.

While they haven’t always got along, you can’t deny how good Rooney and Ronaldo were together on a football pitch.

Both players were key in winning the Champions League in 2008 and Rooney was unselfish enough to play out of position at times in order to accommodate the Portuguese star. At their best, they were each unstoppable.

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TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Madrid’s top ‘not CR7’ scorer every season since 2000?