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Even though he shared the pitch with football icons like Andrea Pirlo, Cafu, Alessandro Nesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and David Beckham, one particular player left an unforgettable impression on Massimo Ambrosini during his time at AC Milan — and it may not be who fans expect.

In a recent interview, former Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini revealed the name of the most gifted teammate he has ever played alongside, and his choice came as a surprise to many.

Ambrosini, who lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy twice with the Rossoneri, had the privilege of playing with a long list of footballing greats throughout his illustrious career at San Siro.

Yet when asked by FourFourTwo to identify the most talented player he ever shared a dressing room with, Ambrosini looked beyond the likes of Pirlo, Cafu, Nesta, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and Beckham.

“I also played with Ronaldo — the Brazilian one,” Ambrosini told BetVictor. “He was with us only for a couple of months, and he was not in his best shape.”

Ronaldo Nazário joined AC Milan late in his career and made just 20 appearances for the club. Despite battling recurring injuries and knee problems, his natural ability and footballing intelligence clearly stood out to those around him.

“Even with problems in his knees and despite not being fully fit, it was incredible,” Ambrosini recalled. “The way he touched the ball, the way he played, his understanding of the game — it was truly extraordinary.”

He added, “You only needed to watch him train to understand that he was different from everyone else.”

Ambrosini, who spent over a decade at AC Milan, capturing two Champions League titles and four Serie A crowns, didn’t stop at praising Ronaldo. Before speaking about the Brazilian’s brilliance, he took a moment to express his admiration for another Milan legend he deeply respected.

“Above all, there’s my captain, Paolo Maldini — an incredible example of a footballer, a captain, a leader, with technical, tactical and emotional qualities,” Ambrosini said.

After Maldini retired following more than 900 appearances for the Rossoneri, Ambrosini was chosen to succeed him as captain — a challenge that came with immense responsibility and pressure.

“That was a problem!” he laughed while speaking to FourFourTwo. “To be honest, it wasn’t easy at the beginning. You start off knowing that you can never reach his level, that you can’t possibly measure up to him.”

He continued, “You carry a lot of responsibility and you ask yourself, ‘Am I good enough to be the captain of AC Milan?’”

Despite the weight of expectation, Ambrosini eventually grew into the role and began to relish the honour of leading such a historic club.

“It took me two or three months, but I think that’s normal,” he explained. “Then, after the feeling of responsibility comes the feeling of pride — you are the captain of AC Milan!”

“You find your own way; it becomes personal,” Ambrosini added. “You don’t need to copy anyone or try to do things exactly as Maldini did, because everyone has their own unique path.”