The legendary football player, Ronaldinho, was born on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. At 21, he received the 1997 Ballon d'Or and remains the youngest recipient of the award. [228], In December 1999, Ronaldo married Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues, at the time pregnant with the couple's first son, Ronald, who was born in Milan, on 6 April 2000. Matches and goals scored during his career, 1976-1998, by league Diego Armando Maradona, an Argentine soccer star, played over 600 matches in his professional career, scoring 338 goals. In terms of total goals, he also has 10 hattricks. However, after a series of knee injuries and recuperation, he was inactive for almost three years. However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo. [154] The match-winner against Turkey in the semi-final, with the winning goal a toe-poke finish with little back-lift while on the run a finish he learned while playing futsal in his youth the final whistle saw fans behind the goal hoist huge white letters to spell out his name akin to the Hollywood sign. [134] Zagallo admitted the fears over Ronaldo affected his team psychologically, and stated "for the whole of the first half I was wondering whether to take him off", but feared a public outcry in Brazil had he done so. [100] Rio-based sports newspaper Lance! What allowed him so many chances at an open net was his close control when one on one with the keeper. Pele now lists his total as 1,283 goals, including his goal haul with Santos. film trilogy, Goal! He is considered one of the best players in the history of football (soccer). [13] Under the guidance of coach Alfredo Sampaio, he progressed quickly through the ranks, playing for the clubs' under-17 and under-20 teams while only 15. [5][6] Ronaldo has a brother, Nlio Jr.[6][7] His parents separated when he was 11, and Ronaldo dropped out of school shortly afterward to pursue a career in football. "[33] At the end of 1996, aged 20, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win FIFA World Player of the Year. [106] Scoring eight goals in nine matches, his form led to calls for his return to the Brazil national team nearly 70% of respondents in a poll for the O Globo newspaper voted that he should be reinstated, with the country's president Lula also calling for his immediate return. [263] In 2017 Ronaldo was added as an icon to the Ultimate Team in EA Sports' FIFA video game FIFA 18, receiving a 95 rating along with Brazilian compatriot Pel, Argentine playmaker Diego Maradona, former Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin and former French star Thierry Henry. Buffon vale Maradona", "As natural as Federer, Ronaldo in his prime was a true football phenomenon", "Mourinho: Neither Messi nor Cristiano beat Ronaldo Nazario", "Ballon d'Or Dream Team: Xavi alongside Messi and Cristiano", "Ranked! [112][113] Commenting on his weight issues following this announcement, Brian Homewood of The Guardian states, "Sadly, Ronaldo's celebrity is now more of a draw than his skills on the pitch Coldplay, Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres and actor Hugh Jackman have all visited So Paulo to get a picture with the rolypoly star. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, including Paolo Maldini, Eric Cantona, Lus Figo, Patrick Kluivert and Jorge Campos, they defend "the beautiful game" against a team of demonic warriors, destroying evil by winning the match. . He eventually came good, though, and following Gareth Bale's then-record transfer. "I used to visualise the trophy in front of my eyes and imagine what a wonderful feeling it must be to hold it up in the air. I have seen il Fenomeno do things nobody else has ever done. [71] Speaking in 2017 on Ronaldo's weight issues and lack of fitness at Madrid, in addition to his ability, Capello summed up the conflicting emotions he has with the Brazilian, "the most difficult player to handle was the best I coached: Ronaldo, il Fenomeno. Or talks about it. "[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. Scored 87 goals in 74 games during the 1983-84 season. [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. "[81] On 25 January, Ronaldo flew from Madrid to Milan, with statements on the club's website stating Ronaldo was in Milan for a medical, and that a meeting had been arranged with Real Madrid officials to discuss and finalize his transfer to the Milanese club. "Profitable Marketing Communications: A Guide to Marketing Return on Investment". "[145], A conspiracy surrounded Nike, the sportswear company who sponsored Ronaldo and the Brazilian national team, with some in Brazil believing the company had forced Ronaldo to play. Corinthians made an offer that will let me continue my career. Actually, thinking about it now, one aspect of his game stood out from all of his qualities in my 5-year-old-brain: his ability to score goals. [84] The next game at Siena, on 17 February, Ronaldo scored twice and assisted on a third goal in his first start for Milan, as they won 43. Whenever he wanted to turn it on he could, on any stage, in any stadium". The forward was nicknamed 'Fenomeno' in his playing days and it isn't hard to see why. [159][160][161] In a 2017 interview with Fox Sports, Ronaldo stated, "the best team I played in was the Brazilian one in 2002, we felt that we could always score. [83] Wearing the number 99 jersey, he made his debut as a substitute on 11 February 2007 in the 21 victory over Livorno. [197], "Ronaldo did things nobody had seen before. "[233], In April 2008, Ronaldo was involved in a scandal involving three travesti prostitutes whom he met in a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro. [222], In September 2018, Ronaldo became the majority owner of La Liga club Real Valladolid after buying a 51% controlling stake in the club for 30 million. In December 2021, he bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro, investing $70 million in the club. "[211] Wanting to emulate Ronaldo growing up, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah opined, "The ability, the speed, the intelligence, he had everything". [185] With 62 goals for Brazil Ronaldo retired from international football as the second-highest goalscorer for his country, behind only Pel (Neymar has since moved into second place, with Ronaldo the third-highest scorer as of October 2020). Player Profile for Ronaldo in the Soccer World Cups. [157] Ronaldo was the first player to seek out German players to offer his condolences,[151] before he was congratulated by Pel when receiving his World Cup winners medal. This attacking performance currently places them at 3rd out of 326 for Bundesliga Players who've played at least 3 matches. [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. [164] Prior to the tournament, questions were asked of his weight and fitness,[165][166] but was declared fit for Brazil's opening match with Croatia. "[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. [221], At his physical peak in the 1990s, Ronaldo became severely affected by the knee injuries he suffered from late 1999 onward and the subsequent weight gain during his inactivity, which limited his speed, fitness, and mobility. [156] In the final against Germany in Yokohama, Japan, Ronaldo scored twice in Brazil's 20 win and tied Pel's Brazilian record of 12 career World Cup goals. [12][17] He came to national public attention on 7 November 1993, scoring five goals in the game against Bahia. They were the first to drop from the penalty box to pick up the ball in midfield, switch to the flanks, attract and disorientate the central defenders with their runs, their accelerations, their dribbling. "[47] Inter had high hopes going into the 19992000 season with their attack including Ronaldo and Italian stars Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri. [240], "In the dressing room, I was sat between [Paolo] Maldini and Ronaldo, who asked me if I wanted to be part of his clan, showing me a copy of Playboy, or if wanted to be part of Kak's clan, who had a few church things in the dressing room. He, together with Romrio and George Weah, reinvented the centre-forward position. [167], At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo was part of a much-publicized "magic quartet" alongside Adriano, Ronaldinho and Kak. Everything that would come to define him the lightning pace, the blurry stepovers, the implausible impression that he was faster with the ball than without it, even the exceptional upper-body strength was all there. [8], Ronaldo has been sponsored by sportswear company Nike since the early part of his career. I know, I lost my battle. "[30] Jos Mourinho, who worked as an interpreter at Barcelona, referred to Ronaldo as "the greatest player I have ever seen in my life", adding, "I have no doubts. Perhaps the most complete striker in the recent past, Ronaldo has also won the World Cup twice with Brazil. Although both are entering the final stretch of their careers, they continue to deliver. 819 Goals 234 Assists 1145 Apps 113 mins per goal 88 mins per goal contribution Detailed Stats messivsronaldo.app All Time Career All Time Stats Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Goal Contributions Goals Messi 794 Ronaldo 819 Assists Messi 350 Ronaldo 234 Appearances Messi 1,004 Ronaldo 1,145 Minutes Played Messi 82,415 Ronaldo 92,851 Goals Per Game But I was training with Flamengo for four months and didn't receive any offer. A happening. [232][233][234] Ronaldo's father, Nelio Nazario, stated, "He knows full well that he's black. The 10 best players of France 98", "What REALLY happened to Ronaldo before the 1998 World Cup Final in his own words", "World Cup moments: Mystery surrounds Ronaldo in 1998", "Zidane lights the blue-touch paper for France", "The mystery of Paris that refuses to go away", "Ronaldo: 1998 World Cup final mystery and why Brazil's star striker barely turned up", "Free of demons and back in land of the living", "Ronaldo: The road to redemption with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup", "Redemption for Ronaldo as world's eyes turn east", "Ronaldo's 2002 World Cup redemption according to him: "In that moment, I felt complete", "World Cup 2014 countdown: Ronaldo's comeback at the 2002 World Cup", "Ronaldo's Redemption: 2002 World Cup documentary", "Ronaldo reveals the real reason for his wedge haircut at the 2002 World Cup", "FIFA World Cup Final. Hatchtt. [27] A hat-trick against Valencia, the third goal of which saw him dissect two Valencia defenders before striking the ball into the net, saw Barcelona fans waving white handkerchiefs as an expression of admiration for an exceptional performance. According to many official reports, Pele scored 643 goals with Santos FC and FIFA has a total count of 767 during his career (club and international level). Actually, at the time, I thought it was some philosophy, something to that effect. [261] Released in 2000 for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color, the video game Ronaldo V-Football was exclusively endorsed by Ronaldo. [86] Ronaldo is also one of the few players to have started for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, which also boasts a heated rivalry. [50][51] Ronaldo's physiotherapist Nilton Petrone stated, "his knee-cap actually exploded", and called it "the worst football injury" he's ever seen. [74] Although the knee injuries before 2002 meant he "was robbed of the explosiveness of his early years" (FourFourTwo magazine) by the time he signed for Real Madrid, Ronaldo was named by Marca as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history". He was United's top scorer in the last three seasons of his first spell at Old Trafford, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2008 as a result, before moving to Real Madrid in 2009 as the then. [21] With PSV, Ronaldo won the Dutch Cup in 1996 and he was Eredivisie top scorer in 1995. [41] Ronaldo was given his most recognizable nickname, Il Fenomeno, by the Italian press while playing there. ", "Seleo Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 1998-1999", "Olympic bronze medal means everything to me, says Ronaldo", "FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1997", "World Cup: 25 stunning moments No15: Ronaldo falters as France win", "Ranked! [97] The club confirmed after the match that Ronaldo had ruptured the kneecap ligament in his left knee. "[213] The outstanding influence for a generation of strikers, from Karim Benzema to Sergio Agero, with Romelu Lukaku stating "he changed the dimension of a striker" and could "dribble like a winger, run like a sprinter", Zlatan added, "nobody influenced football and the players who emerged as much as Ronaldo".[214]. "[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. In 1997, Inter Milan broke the world record fee to sign Ronaldo, making him the first player since Diego Maradona to break the world transfer record twice. There will never, in my view, be a better player than him. The Portuguese striker scored a penalty kick in the 70th minute to give Manchester United a 3-2 victory. In terms of total goals, Ronaldo has surpassed the records of other legendary players, including Josef Bican and Pele. "He could go in a restaurant, and I could go in with him, and you're not just there with close friends. [27] Half-way through the season, Barcelona Ronaldo agreed in principle to extend his contract to 2006, doubling his salary in the process. It's an astonishing feat for one of the world's greatest strikers. 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. It was Barcelona that was willing to pay the then world record fee of $19.5million, and he joined the club on 17 July 1996. 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. and Snia dos Santos Barata. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal, a tournament record at the time. Antony Young (2007). [104] Ronaldo responded that playing for Corinthians was the only option open to him. [63] He also won an Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and Spanish Super Cup in 2003, scoring in both finals. [63], "He got the standing ovation he deserved from the crowd. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 200203 La Liga title. Neymar has scored total 269 goals in 439 games (for clubs) since his debut with Santos in 2009. Such incredible power matched to his technical skills could make him unstoppable. A young Ronaldo [before a series of injuries] would have been even more dangerous, but it shows how good a player he was. [212] Naming Ronaldo as an inspiration, Wayne Rooney stated, "as an out-and-out forward he was probably the best. In 2020, Ronaldo was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, a greatest all-time XI published by France Football magazine. [168][169] The all-star Brazilian team was promoted as masters of Joga Bonito, "the beautiful game", which was advertised by Nike before the tournament. [176] Ronaldo was awarded the Bronze Shoe as the third-highest goal-scorer of the World Cup. Leo Messi was on just 42, 11 more than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In terms of individual goals, he has scored a total of 142 goals, which is the most of any professional footballer. The Brazilian scored 414 goals in 616 appearances for club and country throughout his career. "[22], Nick Miller, match reporter for The Guardian, writes, "What's striking about Ronaldo in that first year at PSV is how complete he looks, even as a skinny teenager. [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. [94][95] The closest that he came to Champions League success was in 2003 when he helped Real Madrid to the semi-finals, in which they lost to Juventus. 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