Inter Hall of Fame 2018", "Hall Of Fame: The first edition's 4 winners", "2001 present Real Madrid surpasses the century mark", "Monaco 3 - 1 Real Madrid (Agg: 5-5; Monaco go through on away goals)", "Ronaldo: In his pomp, he was a footballing force close to unstoppable", "Fabio Capello: Ronaldo was the hardest to coach", "Fabio Capello: "Inter's Ronaldo Superior To Cristiano Ronaldo", "The best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history", "'He was impossible to stop' - What they said about Ronaldo", "Ruud van Nistelrooy names Brazil legend Ronaldo as the best player he ever played with", "Milan coach delighted by Ronaldo's debut", "AC Milan v Barcelona: Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and the legends who played for both clubs", "AC Milan vs. Inter: 10 Players Who Played for Both Sides", "Pato has a debut to remember as Milan end their San Siro duck", "Milan in thrall to 'Ka-Pa-Ro' strike force", "From Ronaldo to Totti, the best players never to win the Champions League", "The 20 best players never to win the Champions League. [18] His first senior goal came in a friendly during a tour of Portugal, scoring a goal against Belenenses and generally impressing new coach Carlos Alberto Silva, enough to become a first team regular. He revealed, "when I arrived in training with this haircut everybody stopped talking about the injury". "[216] Asked who was the toughest opponent of his career, Fabio Cannavaro responded, "I have no doubt, Ronaldo, the phenomenon. "[47] Inter had high hopes going into the 19992000 season with their attack including Ronaldo and Italian stars Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri. He was ridiculously good. [241], In December 2010, Ronaldo and his family moved to a new mansion in So Paulo. In 2005, Ronaldo became engaged to Brazilian model and MTV VJ Daniela Cicarelli, who became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage; the relationship lasted only three months after their luxurious wedding at the Chteau de Chantilly. Despite his injury woes, many people speak so highly of Ronaldo including Jose Mourinho, who believes he is the best player he's ever seen. He joined Barcelona in 1996 for a then world record transfer fee and at 20 years old, he was named the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year, making him the youngest recipient of the award. During his jaw-dropping career at Barcelona, Messi scored a mind-boggling 672 goals in 778 appearances, breaking numerous records during his spell at Camp Nou. Player Profile for Ronaldo in the Soccer World Cups. He was so natural, so cool, so utterly in control. [49] A medical examination confirmed that the striker had ruptured a tendon in his knee and would require surgery. [8] He played on the streets of Bento Ribeiro, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. [182] Brazilian Football Confederation official Ricardo Teixeira stated that it was fitting that his final game should take place in Brazil while representing his nation. [87] Ronaldo's only goals in the 200708 season, besides his goal against Lecce in pre-season, came in a 52 victory against Napoli at the San Siro, where he scored an emotional double. [123][155] Much attention was on his haircut only part of his head was shaved done as a deliberate distraction to shift media attention away from a leg injury. The Portuguese soccer star has now scored 750 goals in his career, which is the most by any player in history. #1 Ronaldo", "Ronaldo: Former Brazil striker buys controlling stake in Real Valladolid", "Ronaldo becomes primary owner of Real Valladolid following takeover", "Former Brazil striker Ronaldo buys second division Cruzeiro", "Descontente com a CBF, Ronaldo pede descanso da seleo", "Brazil's World Cup party can't hide the country's tensions", "Brazil: The ideology of "whitening" and the struggle for a black identity", "Police probe Ronaldo-transvestite incident", "Two of the transvestite prostitutes admit Ronaldo allegations are false", "Ronaldo's family confirms former fiancee's pregnancy", "Ronaldo and Maria Beatriz Antony's new penthouse in So Paulo", "Ronaldo's wife gives birth to another girl", "Alexandre Pato: Ronaldo tried to win me over with Playboy at AC Milan", "Ronaldo moves to a R$ 17 million mansion", "In the newsstands: Everything about the first meeting between Ronaldo and Alex", Antara News: After fourth child, Ronaldo performs vasectomy, "Steve McManaman on retired Brazilian legend Ronaldo", "Ronaldo, Fittipaldi Launch A1 Team Brazil", "Ronaldo Brazilian football legend signs UFC star Anderson Silva as first client in new management agency", "Silva Signs with Soccer Superstar Ronaldo's Marketing Company", "Daily Bagel: Nadal accepts Ronaldo's poker game challenge", "Brazil icon Ronaldo becomes minority owner of Fort Lauderdale Strikers", "Ronaldo Joins Fort Lauderdale Strikers Ownership", "Ronaldo to Open Three Football Schools in China by December", "Soccer legend Ronaldo's son to play in Maccabiah", "Guest Voices Next Season on 'The Simpsons', "How 'Goal!' "[124] Dubbed the "three R's", Ronaldo starred in a formidable attack alongside Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, and the trio were named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. "[55] Prior to his November 1999 injury Ronaldo had registered 42 goals in 58 Serie A games, in what was the hardest league to score in with the most advanced defensive strategies and the world's best defenders. "[133], "The way he combined powerhouse athleticism with a poetic touch made for an awesome sight. [52], Ronaldo was forced to miss the entire 200001 season and much of the two seasons either side of it. Ronaldinho played 97 matches and scored 33 goals for Brazil to become the eighth-highest goalscorer in the Selecao's history, finishing his club career with 145 appearances and 70 goals. "[34] Paying the buy out clause fee in his contract, Inter Milan signed him in the summer of 1997 for a then world record fee of $27million,[35] making him the second player, after Diego Maradona, to break the world transfer record twice. As a multi-functional striker who brought a new dimension to the position, Ronaldo has been an influence for a generation of strikers that have followed. At his fearsome peak for PSV, Barcelona and Inter Milan he was arguably the most dangerous striker the world has ever seen. [27] Half-way through the season, Barcelona Ronaldo agreed in principle to extend his contract to 2006, doubling his salary in the process. He has enormous physical potential. How many goals did Pele score in his career? [92] Ronaldo stated, "I live football with a passion that doesn't give me any peace for not winning the Champions League it's a trophy everyone would love to win. "[20] Rob Smyth added, "In many ways Ronaldo was the first PlayStation footballer. "Profitable Marketing Communications: A Guide to Marketing Return on Investment". Maradona was controversially voted best player of all time in an internet . [183], Ronaldo played for 15 minutes in a match that ended with a Brazilian victory with a goal from Fred. "[104], Ronaldo played his first match for Corinthians on 4 March 2009, a Copa do Brasil match against Itumbiara at Estdio Juscelino Kubitschek, in which he came as a substitute for Jorge Henrique. [82] On 26 January, Ronaldo successfully completed his medical tests at the Milanello training complex under the supervision of club doctors, and the transfer was completed on 30 January. [126][127], At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ronaldo used the name Ronaldinho again, since centre-back Ronaldo Guiaro, two years his senior, was one of his teammates. [145] Reporting for CNN, Don Riddell wrote, "It's one of the great mysteries of our time: not the Loch Ness Monster, Stonehenge or the Lost City of Atlantis; it's the case of the missing striker not so much a whodunit, more a kind of a what the heck happened? [8], Ronaldo has been sponsored by sportswear company Nike since the early part of his career. "[23] Ronaldo's second season was marred by a knee injury which kept him out of most of the campaign, but he still averaged nearly a goal a game, scoring 19 goals in 21 appearances,[20] including a UEFA Cup four-goal haul against Finnish side MyPa. [32], "He was physical perfection, and he seemed like a mythical figure. p. 138. "[23] Asked to name the best player of his lifetime, Jos Mourinho said, "Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. "When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field. His Brazil teammate Romrio having played for PSV from 1988 to 1993 advised Ronaldo to move to the club. [104] Ronaldo responded that playing for Corinthians was the only option open to him. [71][203] According to his physiotherapist Nilton Petrone, Ronaldo was vulnerable to injury due to a medical condition combined with his explosive running. [177], Having been listed in Guinness World Records, Ronaldo stated, "I am proud of my career and of the records I set. Ronaldo moved from left to right very fastso it was obvious, by the way that he played, that injuries were always a possibility". He was a perfect physical specimen. A happening. He also represented some of the world's biggest clubs, including Inter Milan and Barcelona. [163] With 10 goals in 15 games, including a goal against Venezuela in the last game to secure first place, Ronaldo was the South American top scorer in Brazil's qualifying campaign. [25] Barcelona thought there was an agreement in place, with Barcelona president Josep Llus Nez saying "He's ours for life", but when the parties reconvened the following day, the agreement collapsed, with Nez admitting: "It's all over, Ronaldo is going". In terms of individual goals, he has scored a total of 142 goals, which is the most of any professional footballer. [138][139][140] Hours before the final against France, Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit. This attacking performance currently places them at 3rd out of 326 for Bundesliga Players who've played at least 3 matches. In fact, the total count with Santos FC could be 1091 goals and 1282 goals for his . Planet Sport runs through some of his key career stats: 3 - the record number of World Cups won by Pele, in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Sometimes there'd be 20 to 30 people sitting at meal times with him. Stats by club At 21, he received the 1997 Ballon d'Or and remains the youngest recipient of the award. [23], His coach at Barcelona, Bobby Robson, commented: "Ronaldo could start from the halfway line and the whole stadium would ignite. [40] Ronaldo started to develop into a complete forward. What stood out to all of us, from the moment we met Ronnie, was that he could do things which other players found very difficult and make them look easy. Awesome. [25], During his spell at PSV, Ronaldo attracted the attention of both Inter Milan and FC Barcelona. Ronaldo Lus Nazrio de Lima was born on 18 September 1976 in Rio de Janeiro as the third child of Nlio Nazrio de Lima Snr. First name Ronaldo Luz Last name Nazrio de Lima Nationality Brazil Date of birth 22 September 1976 Age 46 Country of birth Brazil Place of birth Rio de Janeiro Ronaldo was introduced after 30 minutes, partnering 19-year-old Neymar in attack, and had three shots on target which were saved by the Romanian goalkeeper. Cristiano, maybe you can guess that he has three or four tricks he would use most of the time, but Ronaldo, it was always something different. [185] After the first half ended, Ronaldo made a farewell speech to the crowd. [62] Ronaldo scored twice on his debut against Alavs, the first 61 seconds after coming on. [102][103] On 9 December, however, Ronaldo signed a one-year deal with Flamengo's league rival Corinthians. And usually, he was right". [124] He was then known as Ronaldinho ("little Ronaldo" in Portuguese), because Ronaldo Rodrigues de Jesus, his older teammate, was also called Ronaldo and later nicknamed Ronaldo ("big Ronaldo") to further distinguish them. "[33], "There were two Ronaldos: the one that returned after long-term injury in 2002 was a great goalscorer, but the 1990s version was a great everything. [147], Prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo had barely played since rupturing the cruciate ligament in his right knee in April 2000, and he missed Brazil's entire qualification campaign where, in his absence, the team had been poor. [134] Brazil lost the match to hosts France 30. [184] Fred celebrated his goal with Ronaldo's famous 'finger wag' celebration along with his Brazilian teammates. [25] Speaking to ESPN, Ronaldo stated, "I had reached an agreement to renew my contract just a month before that season finished, but a week later the lawyer and the president of Barcelona agreed that that contract was absurd. [193] Ronaldo played in the UNDP's 11th Match Against Poverty on 4 March 2014 against a Zidane XI in Bern, Switzerland, with proceeds raised helping the recovery efforts in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. [8] Ronaldo's agents accepted an offer of 50,000 from the club, and he scored four goals on his youth team debut. [239] On 6 April 2010, Maria Beatriz Antony gave birth to their second daughter. ", Quinton Fortune remembers playing against Ronaldo in the 199697 season. The speed of thought he had and the speed he had to carry out his actions were perfect. "[72], "He [Ronaldo] was more talented [than Cristiano Ronaldo] and if he took care of himself like the Portuguese does, his performances would have been even more incredible. The Brazilian scored 414 goals in 616 appearances for club and country throughout his career. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 200203 La Liga title. [23][25] He signed a five-year contract with the Italians,[36] and was unveiled to 4000 Inter fans at their training ground. He invites everybody. Although both are entering the final stretch of their careers, they continue to deliver. Scored 51 goals in 79 games during the 1979-80 season. It's an astonishing feat for one of the world's greatest strikers. Whenever he wanted to turn it on he could, on any stage, in any stadium". [134], Ronaldo was the last Brazilian player out of the tunnel as the teams entered the field. "[224], In December 2021, Ronaldo bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro. Neymar has scored total 269 goals in 439 games (for clubs) since his debut with Santos in 2009. He proved that he was a cut above the rest that season. "[44] After the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he was named player of the tournament, Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best striker in the world. In 1996-1997, Ronaldo played arguably his best season, scoring numerous spectacular goals for FC Barcelona. [46], "The knee injuries suffered at Inter Milan took away the explosiveness that made him possibly the greatest young footballer of all time, a futuristic fusion of speed, strength and skill. [134] Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian writes, "In 1998, no one was as ferociously talented as Ronaldo, whose supernatural mixture of power, pace and skill had made him the player every child in the playground wanted to be; at the age of 21, the hopes and dreams of a nation rested on his shoulders. Kogan Page Publishers. [134] The BBC's John Motson stated, "The scenes in the commentary box have been absolute mayhem and chaos. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)&oldid=1132965679, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, Estadio Ramn Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, Supercopa Libertadores Team of the Year: 199394, Campeonato Mineiro Team of the Year: 1994, FIFA Confederations Cup All-Star Team: 1997, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 15:22. [58][59], Having signed for Real Madrid for 46million, his jersey sales broke all records on the first day. In the 1990s, in his physical pomp, in his free-flowing prime, there was nothing remotely like him. Ronaldo National Team Brazil Ronaldo Stats Detail of World Cups Played [61] He was sidelined through injury until October 2002 which added to the fans anticipation. [8][16] Jairzinho saw Ronaldo's potential and helped get him a move to Cruzeiro. "[217] Sid Lowe compared Ronaldo's ability to take on a number of opponents on a single run to what rugby player Jonah Lomu was doing in the same era. [121] His first senior goal for Brazil came on 4 May 1994 in a 30 friendly win against Iceland. [66], In a 2005 interview with Folha de S.Paulo, Ronaldo revealed that, somewhat unexpectedly, he identified racially as white,[231] generating a wider conversation about the complex role of race in Brazil. [23][45] By the end of the 199899 season, he was appointed Inter Milan captain. "[215] On his speed of thought, Kak said "For me the best players are those who are able to think of a play and execute it quickest and in the best way possible, and Ronaldo was the best at that. [173], With two goals against Japan in the third match, Ronaldo became the 20th player to score in three World Cups and also equalled the all-time World Cup finals scoring record of fourteen, held by Gerd Mller (Ronaldo scored at France 98, Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006). Often dubbed 'R9', the former Real Madrid man won a slew of trophies in his career including two World Cups with Brazil. [245], In a 2011 interview with the BBC, former Real Madrid teammate Steve McManaman spoke about Ronaldo's personality. [212] Naming Ronaldo as an inspiration, Wayne Rooney stated, "as an out-and-out forward he was probably the best. In 2018, Ronaldo's R9 Mercurial boots inspired the Nike Mercurial Superfly VI boots commissioned for Kylian Mbapp. From that point on he showed he was truly a phenomenon. 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