"CR7, Neymar" - Chelsea star claims his nickname in school was because of Cristiano Ronaldo
Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson recently claimed he was given nicknames in school because of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian attacker Neymar. The Senegalese forward idolized the iconic footballing pair as a child.
Despite some initial struggles after his reported £37 million move from Villarreal to Chelsea in July 2023, Jackson has been a solid player for the Blues. With nine goals and three assists in 19 Premier League appearances, he has the second-most goal contributions for Enzo Maresca's side in the 2024-25 campaign (behind English sensation Cole Palmer).
With their silky skills and goalscoring prowess, Ronaldo and Neymar inspired an entire generation of young footballers across the world. The latest addition to the list is Jackson, who recently revealed his idolization of the legendary Portuguese and Brazilian forwards.
In a video released by the Premier League on social media, players were asked to disclose their childhood nicknames. When Jackson was asked the question, he said (via @premierleague on X):
"I have a lot - Nicks, CR7 (Ronaldo's nickname), Neymar. They were my idols, so they just called me that."
Ronaldo and Neymar currently ply their trade in the Saudi Pro League, playing for Al Nassr and Al Hilal respectively. While they were both marquee signings for the league back in 2023, their careers have panned out quite differently over the last two years.
Ronaldo has been aging like fine wine, with 75 goals and 18 assists in 84 games for the Knights of Najd across all competitions. On the other hand, Neymar made his long-awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, only to get sidelined again with a hamstring injury.
Jackson, meanwhile, will likely be seen in action in Chelsea's upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on January 14.
"He could be top class" - Premier League and Barcelona legend makes claim about Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson
Former Premier League and Barcelona forward Gary Lineker has claimed that Chelsea marksman Nicolas Jackson can become 'top class' if he works on his finishing. The Englishman lavished praise on the Senegalese attacker's movement and asserted that he still has time to work towards becoming an effective goalscorer.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the 64-year-old said (via chelsea.news):
"His movement is really good. It's not easy if you’re not a natural finisher and I don't think he is one. But if he can improve that side of his game and work at it in training, he could be top class. He's still very young so that improvement can come. His movement is really good and he's got a great relationship with Cole Palmer."
Palmer and Jackson have assisted each other on six occasions, forming a potent attacking duo under Enzo Maresca. With two losses and a draw in their last three Premier League encounters, the Blues will be looking towards their star attacking duo to get them out of the rut.
