Cole spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 1995 and 2001, winning five Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and two FA Cups.
Despite Cole being one of the most lethal frontmen in Europe at the time, Brazil’s Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best striker in world football.
Ronaldo was already a World Cup winner and a two-time world footballer of the year when his Inter Milan side met Cole’s Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the 1998/1999 UEFA Champions League.
United edged past Inter en route to a famous treble but Cole getting the opportunity to come up against the famous Brazilian left a lasting impression on the Englishman.
Cole told the Beautiful Game Podcast: "I remember when we played Inter Milan that same season and I lined up in the tunnel and I saw Ronaldo. I’m not gonna lie, I nearly wet myself!
"This is the guy I’ve watched for years. I’m talking about a baller, a straight baller. He had everything in the locker and I’m standing in the tunnel at the San Siro and I’m saying: 'This is sick!', but when you’re at that level and you think, 'Man, I’m actually at this level with these guys. I’m on the same pitch as these guys, I’m on that level', it's surreal.
"I’m always honest and I’m always open when it comes to things like this. Playing against these kinds of guys.
"It’s something that when I do take the opportunity to look back, I say to my boys: 'I’ve done alright. I’ve half made it!'."
