Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)

• 1. Street Football Origins

  ›

  Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was born on the 18th of September 1976 in Itaguaí, a small town near Rio de Janeiro. He grew up playing football on the streets of Bento Ribeiro, a suburb where he spent his childhood after his parents separated when he was only 11 years old. His mother later admitted she lost her battle to keep him in school because he was always found playing ball with friends instead of studying. At age 12, he joined the Social Ramos futsal team and immediately dominated the city's youth league by scoring 166 goals in his first season alone. That record included an astonishing performance where he scored 11 of his team's 12 goals in a single game. His coach Alirio Carvalho described Ronaldo as having an attitude that seemed otherworldly, noting nothing could disturb or overawe him during matches. Scouts began circling quickly after his early displays, with agents Reinaldo Pitta and Alexandre Martins signing him at just 13 years old. Pitta stated they saw right away that he could be something different from most other players. By age 15, he was already playing for São Cristóvão's under-20 teams under coach Alfredo Sampaio. Former Brazilian legend Jairzinho spotted his potential and recommended the 16-year-old to Cruzeiro, his boyhood club. The club president César Masci initially turned down Flamengo, the team Ronaldo supported as a child, simply because he missed practice due to inability to afford bus fare for the hour-long ride. When Cruzeiro finally offered €50,000, his agents accepted it immediately. He made his professional debut on the 25th of May 1993 against Caldense in the Minas Gerais State Championship. Within three months of arriving at Cruzeiro, he had scored four goals on his youth team debut and became a first-team regular after impressing new coach Carlos Alberto Silva during a tour of Portugal.

• 2. European Dominance And Records

  ›

  Ronaldo joined PSV Eindhoven after the 1994 World Cup despite being only 17 years old when selected for Brazil's squad. His teammate Romário advised him to move to the Dutch club where he had played from 1988 to 1993. On the 28th of August 1994, Ronaldo scored just ten minutes into his debut against Vitesse and followed that with a brace on his home debut against Go Ahead Eagles. He finished his first season in the Netherlands with 30 league goals including seven braces and a hat-trick against Utrecht. After scoring another hat-trick in PSV's game against Bayer Leverkusen, German striker Rudi Völler stated in a post-match press conference that he had never seen an 18-year-old play in such a way before. Future Barcelona teammate Luis Enrique recalled seeing him on television at PSV and thinking wow, then watching him come to Barcelona and realizing he was the most spectacular player ever seen. Match reporter Nick Miller noted how complete Ronaldo looked even as a skinny teenager, possessing lightning pace, blurry stepovers, and exceptional upper-body strength. Rob Smyth added that many considered Ronaldo the first PlayStation footballer whose signature elastico trick seemed to have come directly from a computer screen. His second season was marred by a knee injury keeping him out of most campaigns, yet he still averaged nearly a goal per game with 19 goals in 21 appearances. During his two seasons at PSV, he scored 54 goals in 58 games while winning the Dutch Cup in 1996 and finishing as Eredivisie top scorer in 1995. Barcelona paid a world record fee of $19.5 million to sign him on the 17th of July 1996 under manager Bobby Robson who signed an eight-year contract giving him freedom to play up front alone. In his single season at Barcelona during 1996-97, Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games across all competitions. He helped Barcelona win the 1996-97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup title with the winning goal in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. He also won La Liga's top scorer award in 1997 with 34 goals in 37 games plus the European Golden Shoe. By January 1997 at just 20 years old, he became the youngest player ever named FIFA World Player of the Year. Inter Milan broke the world transfer record again in summer 1997 by paying $27 million to sign him, making him only the second player after Diego Maradona to break the world transfer record twice.

• 3. The Injury Crisis And Recovery

  ›

  After two successful seasons with Inter Milan where he scored 25 Serie A goals and won both FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or awards, disaster struck on the 21st of November during a match against Lecce when Ronaldo felt his knee buckle and had to limp off the field. Medical examinations confirmed he had ruptured a tendon requiring surgery. His physiotherapist Nilton Petrone later described the situation as the worst football injury he had ever seen, stating that his kneecap actually exploded during recovery attempts. On the 12th of April 2000, during his first comeback attempt in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio, he played only six minutes before suffering a complete rupture of the kneecap tendons. This catastrophic failure forced him to miss the entire 2000-01 season plus much of the surrounding years. Since teammate Javier Zanetti had replaced him as captain during his absence, Ronaldo eventually inherited the armband in late 2001. After multiple operations and extensive rehabilitation periods spanning nearly three years, he returned specifically for the 2002 World Cup helping Brazil win their fifth title. Prior to this return, he had registered 42 goals in just 58 Serie A games despite playing in what was considered the hardest league globally with its most advanced defensive strategies. Over five total seasons at Inter Milan, he accumulated 99 appearances and 59 goals before injuries began derailing his career trajectory permanently. The medical condition behind these failures involved trochlear dysplasia making the relationship between his kneecap and femur unstable without direct surgical solutions available. His explosive running style combined with changing direction at incredible speeds made future injuries almost inevitable according to Petrone's analysis.

• 4. International Glory And The 1998 Seizure

  ›

  Ronaldo entered the 1998 FIFA World Cup billed by reporters as the world's greatest player whose supernatural mixture of power pace and skill made him every child's playground hero. At age 21, the hopes and dreams of an entire nation rested on his shoulders leading up to the tournament final against France. He scored four goals and provided three assists en route to reaching the championship match including netting twice in a 4-1 victory over Chile. Hours before the final kick-off, Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit that removed him from the starting lineup 72 minutes before the game. Team sheet submissions included Edmundo as his replacement until shortly before kickoff when Ronaldo pleaded feeling fine and requested reinstatement by Brazil coach Mário Zagallo. BBC commentator John Motson described scenes in the commentary box as absolute mayhem and chaos following this dramatic development. During the playing of Brazil's national anthem cameras focused exclusively on Ronaldo showing little emotion while he sleepwalked through what became a 3-0 loss to host nation France. He was injured again during play in a collision with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez but continued despite clear physical distress. Zagallo admitted fears affected his team psychologically wondering whether to remove him throughout the first half yet fearing public outcry if he did so. An official inquiry launched in Brazil with team doctor Lídio Toledo telling commissioners imagine if I stopped Ronaldo playing and Brazil lost then I would have to go live on the North Pole. Professor Adrian Williams from Birmingham University stated clearly that Ronaldo should not have played given he would still be experiencing aftereffects within 24 hours of his initial seizure. Despite subpar performance due to the earlier incident, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball award recognizing him best player of tournament for performances leading up to final match. The nature of this incident set off years of questions and allegations surrounding possible conspiracy involving Nike sportswear company sponsors though parliamentary investigations found no wider conspiracy despite Brazilian public skepticism remaining high.

• 5. Later Career And Retirement

  ›

  Ronaldo trained Flamengo during recovery from knee surgery club board doors open joining but December 9 signed one-year deal Corinthians league rival instead creating controversy Brazilian press calling phenomenal traitor angry fans burning shirts outside Flamengo headquarters responding saying Corinthians only option open continuing career understanding openly Flamengo fan training four months received offer Corinthians made let continue career. First match Corinthians the 4th of March 2009 Copa do Brasil Itumbiara Estádio Juscelino Kubitschek substitute Jorge Henrique scored first goal the 8th of March Campeonato Paulista Palmeiras eight goals nine matches form led calls return Brazil national team nearly 70% respondents O Globo newspaper poll voted reinstated country president Lula also calling immediate return. Helped Corinthians win Campeonato Paulista ten goals 14 games scoring twice 3-1 win local rivals Santos Pelé looking stands second goal chip Santos goalkeeper 30 yards sending Corinthians fans hysteria ultimately winning Copa do Brasil third time earning spot Copa Libertadores 2010 following injury layoff returned the 20th of September Goiás week later scored draw São Paulo finished 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 12 goals 20 matches. February 2010 signed contract extension keeping until end 2011 then retire commenting weight issues Guardian's Brian Homewood wrote sadly celebrity now more draw skills pitch Coldplay Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres actor Hugh Jackman visited São Paulo get picture roly-poly star. February 2011 Corinthians eliminated 2011 Copa Libertadores Colombian team Deportes Tolima announced retirement concluding 18-year career emotional press conference the 14th of February citing pain hypothyroidism reasons premature retirement discovered condition tests Milan 2007 problem solved taking hormones forbidden football leading suspension doping doctors disagree practice confused doping some publicly claiming lied saying treatable Corinthians doctor said did not have disease usually associated slight weight gain eminently fluid accumulation difficulty getting rid extra pounds admitted body finally succumbed crippling litany injuries blighted career hard leave something made happy mentally wanted continue acknowledge lost body head wants go body can't take anymore think action can't way want time go. December 2018 bought controlling stake boyhood club Cruzeiro investing 400 million reais $70 million stating wants give back Cruzeiro take deserve be the 30th of April 2024 announcement made agreed sell ownership stake undisclosed terms BPW Sports company noting would continue board directors role.