'CR7 and Neymar!' – Nicolas Jackson reveals strange Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired nickname in tribute to Chelsea striker's 'idols'

Nicolas Jackson has revealed that he was nicknamed "CR7" and "Neymar" growing up, as he idolised Cristiano Ronaldo and the Brazilian forward.

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• Senegal international wanted to entertain
• Looked up to a couple of all-time greats
• Has become fearsome forward in his own right

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Senegal international has become a senior star in his own right, with the 23-year-old striker now on the books at Chelsea. He registered 17 goals for them last season, while taking his tally for the current campaign to nine through 20 appearances.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jackson always wanted to be a player that delivered end product and provided entertainment for those in the crowd, with a couple of all-time greats looked to for inspiration. The quick feet and finishing prowess that he displayed as a youngster earned him comparisons to ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona superstars.

• WHAT JACKSON SAID

  Jackson, who still has plenty of potential to unlock in his game, has told the Premier League’s official media channels when asked about his childhood nicknames: "I have a lot. Jacko, Nicks, CR7, Neymar. They were my idols so they just called me that."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The Gambia-born frontman said back in November 2023 of wanting to emulate CR7: "When I was growing up, I loved Cristiano Ronaldo. I had his name on a shirt that I always wore. Not an actual shirt because they are expensive, so you don’t buy them. But I had a shirt that I put 7, Ronaldo on with a pen. I did it myself when I was a kid.

  "Of course, I would pretend to be him, but it was difficult to watch his games because you needed to pay. We would go to my friend’s house, everybody. We would watch in a large group, never just with one person in the house. All my friends, we’d all go to one house to watch Real Madrid."