GOAL sat down with the Portuguese star to discuss a variety of topics as he returns to Orlando this weekend.
Even after all he's been through, all the success and trophies, Nani is still feeling a little bit star struck. A cornerstone of a Manchester United dynasty with Champions League, Premier League and European Championship trophies to his name, there are still moments that make him feel like a kid falling in love with the game for the first time.
This weekend is one of those moments. The Portuguese star is back in Orlando at his old stadium for the second iteration of the Beautiful Game, a superstar clash of legends and current stars. This year's game will, of course, include Nani, who will play alongside legends like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Rivaldo, as well as Vinicius Jr, Joao Felix, Eder Militao, Willian and Lucas Moura.
It's a who's who of superstars, with Nani having earned his place among them. Still, there's one player that the former Manchester United winger is most looking forward to playing with most, one that has inspired him throughout his career. That man, alongside Roberto Carlos, will be hosting the event and whose name will be on the marquee: the legendary Ronaldinho.
- The Beautiful Game
Inspired by Ronaldinho's magic
Nani remembers his clashes with Ronaldinho. He quickly points to the 2009-10 Champions League round of 16, when his Manchester United team got the better of the Brazilian's AC Milan. At the time, Nani was a 24-year-old rising star, already with a Champions League under his belt, but Ronaldinho's legendary status had already been cemented for some time.
All these years later, the Portuguese star admits that he always looked up to the Brazilian icon, and for good reason. Nani was always known for his dribbling and skill on the ball, with those attributes taking him right to the top of the sport. For a player with that skillset, is there a better role model than Ronaldinho?
This match, this Beautiful Game in Orlando, now gives Nani another chance to share the pitch with his idol once again. He played against him in last year's edition, a 12-10 win for Team Roberto Carlos, and he believes that Ronaldinho, even at age 43, is still a player with magic in his feet.
"A player I loved a lot during my youth and followed a lot when he was in his prime was Ronaldinho," Nani told GOAL. "I've always said that. Obviously now, playing with him at a time when he's not a professional anymore, he's retired already, but he still has the talent and the skills. It's always amazing to be there around a player that you used to appreciate a lot.
"The way he used to play, the way he made magic on the field, I copied him so many times and tried to learn from him. At this point, it's nice to have the opportunity to be next to him, talk a little bit, see the human side."
That's one of the most exciting parts of this game for Nani: the chance to share not just a game, but a weekend, with some of the sport's greats. It's an opportunity to take a step back from the battles that he's had with a few of them in the past and to, instead, kick the ball around with some heroes.
The game isn't about wins or losses, and everyone on the field knows that. All involved will instead play a bit more like Ronaldinho, with big smiles on their faces and a bit of confidence in their feet.
"This is a different type of game," Nani says. "It's not a game where there's pressure or where a player has to concentrate or do the maximum on the field. It's a game to enjoy, a game to make people excited with skills and having fun. It's a lot of smiles and a lot of good energy.
"The most important thing is to share the pitch with some people you used to follow in your youth. For me, it's good to be next to Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos. Even the young players coming up right now, there will be some players there as well like Joao Felix and Vinicius, players who are shining in this moment. It's nice to share the pitch with them, have fun and try and show some skills on the field."
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A return to the Lions' den
The Beautiful Game doesn't just give Nani the chance to play alongside his heroes. It also gives him the opportunity to return to Orlando and play in front of a fanbase that remains close to his heart.
Nani joined Orlando City in 2019, assuming the role of the face of the franchise following the departure of Kaka. He scored 31 goals in 88 games during his three-year stay in MLS, earning two All-Star selections during his time in the U.S.
He left the club after the 2021 season, playing six months for Serie A side Venezia before spending the 2022-23 season in Australia with Melbourne Victory. Now, two-and-a-half years after leaving Florida, it's safe to say he's glad to be back.
"It will be a special day for me to come back to Exploria Stadium, a stadium where I had so many beautiful moments in front of fantastic fans that supported me a lot when I was here," Nani said. "I'm looking forward to that moment. It means a lot to me."
He continued: "I was always trying to follow [Orlando City]. Obviously, I followed a couple of games. I saw Orlando's draw against Philadelphia, which is always a tough game. I do my best to try and follow the games, but I was so far [away in Australia] and the time difference makes a lot of difference and sometimes the games weren't on the TV, but I try to follow.
"MLS has been improving a lot with a lot of new players coming in the next few months."
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'Messi will enjoy MLS a lot'
While Nani still has a special place in his heart for Orlando City, it's the Lions' rivals, Inter Miami, that have pulled off the signing of the century: Lionel Messi.
The Argentine is set to arrive in MLS this summer, becoming the biggest name yet to move to MLS. The league has had countless superstars, like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry, to name a few, but none are at the level of Messi, whose arrival promises to change the game in the U.S. forever.
It won't be easy, though, as many of the above names can attest to. MLS is far from an easy league, even for those that have dominated in Europe. It's fast-paced and physical, for sure, while players also have to adjust to the climate, travel and different types of turf.
Nani learned to adapt throughout his three-year stay, and he has no doubt Messi will, too, once he arrives in Miami.
"I think, for him, it will be a very good experience," Nani said. "You have to have the power to manage the small things that will make things difficult for him like turf and the long flights. He can manage that. He doesn't have to do it for all of the games. He'll enjoy it a lot.
"Playing in America was amazing for me and I think everyone likes the lifestyle here, and the momentum of the league is fantastic. For him and for the fans that follow MLS, it will be a very good time because he is a great player who can deliver fantastic football, and that's the most important thing."
Nani went on to reflect positively on his MLS experience as a whole, even if his own tenure was heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Still, despite seeing most of the 2020 season derailed by Covid, he says the experience, as a whole, was fantastic and he found lifelong friends in Orlando.
"I enjoyed my time in MLS. Those three years were amazing," he said. "We had some bad moments where we had to manage Covid, but that was part of the good moments. Sometimes in life, you can't have everything perfect, and we all managed to learn from that. We did well, even when Covid appeared. We were able to train hard and continue to play the game. We found solutions and we were determined here in Orlando.
"What I can say is that my time in Orlando was fantastic, was perfect. I had a great time here, made a lot of friends. I enjoyed playing in MLS, so any player who has the opportunity to come here, they'll enjoy it as well."
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What's next?
As he prepares to take the field for the Beautiful Game, Nani says he is in great physical condition, despite a season-ending injury during his time in Melbourne.
The winger ruptured his ACL in January, ending his season prematurely after just 11 total appearances for the A-League side. He recently returned to the field at his former home, Old Trafford, coming off the bench for the World XI side in a 4-2 win over England in this year's Soccer Aid match.
With that experience under his belt, he says he feels good to go for the Beautiful Game and he hopes to put on a show.
"I feel good. I've been training, been preparing myself to be at my best," he said. "I had the game a couple of weeks ago, Soccer Aid, and I felt great. I'm excited for the moment to participate in this game because we are players and we want to play the game and do what we love to do: touch the ball, try some skills, score some goals and enjoy, because it will be an evening to make people happy and that's the most important thing."
As for what's next, Nani is keeping his options open. His contract with Melbourne Victory expired in May, making him a free agent. He says his plan is to keep playing for as long as he can and he believes that he still has what it takes to truly contribute to a team, even at 36 years old.
"For the moment, I feel like I'm just thinking about the game and playing until I understand that I have to decide and change my job," he said. "At this moment, I feel very good. I'm in condition to play and I can deliver a bit of quality as usual."
He'll get that chance on Saturday in Orlando as he joins some of his heroes in front of a crowd that has idolized him. After that, who knows?
"Until I feel I can't, I'll continue to play," he said. "As I've said, we all love this game, and we have to do what we love."