Former Brazilian football sensation Kaka made an eyebrow-raising statement about his compatriot and legendary striker Ronaldo Nazario. Kaka asserted that Ronaldo is often not given the reverence he deserves in their home country.

Kaka stated his opinions on the matter during a discussion on BeIN Sports in December, saying, “It’s strange to say this, but many Brazilians don’t support Brazil.” He went on to explain how Ronaldo, despite being a World Cup champion and considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, doesn’t receive the same level of respect in Brazil as he does internationally.

According to Kaka, if you see Ronaldo walking down the streets of Brazil, he’s just “a fat man,” whereas he receives immense respect abroad. Kaka clarified that while many Brazilians still love Ronaldo, the respect he gets in Brazil differs from the international acclaim he enjoys.

Kaka’s revelations left fellow pundits Gary Neville and John Terry surprised during the broadcast. He also pointed out that Brazilian fans sometimes treat global superstar Neymar in a similar manner, indicating the complexities of Brazilian football culture.

Here is the highlight video of Ronaldo Nazario’s best skills and goals. 

Embed from Getty Images