Brazilian legend Ronaldo has revealed that former Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen was the worst player he ever played with during his illustrious career.

Ronaldo, who spent five seasons at Madrid and was a key figure in the club’s famous Galacticos era, made the revelation during an interview with fellow Brazil icon Romario. When asked to name the worst footballer he had ever played alongside, the former striker did not hesitate to single out Gravesen.

“There are a lot of them,” Ronaldo admitted. “There was one at Real Madrid who was a joke… Gravesen.”

Gravesen’s arrival at Madrid in January 2005 from Everton for £2.5 million was unexpected at the time. Known for his tough-tackling style, the Danish midfielder made 49 appearances for Los Blancos but never truly established himself as a key player at the Bernabéu.

Despite his criticism of Gravesen’s footballing ability, Ronaldo did acknowledge that the former Denmark international was a good personality off the pitch.

“He was a Danish midfielder. He was a really cool guy, good guy. A little while ago he won a $50 million poker tournament or something.”

However, when it came to his time on the pitch, Ronaldo was blunt about his assessment:

“But in football, he was very bad, he scored and he beat the hell out of people.”

Gravesen, who played two seasons alongside Ronaldo at Madrid, eventually left the club for Celtic in 2006 before retiring from professional football. Since hanging up his boots, he has become known for his unexpected success in the world of high-stakes poker, reportedly amassing millions from the game.

While Gravesen’s career in football may not have impressed Ronaldo, his legacy as a combative and eccentric player remains part of Real Madrid’s history.