RONALDO Luís Nazário de Lima. One of the greatest strikers to have ever graced the modern game. With his speed, explosive power and strength he was the player every defender feared and every kid wanted to be.
Probably the greatest footballer to have never one the Champions League! Yep, we couldn’t believe that either. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima – born 18th September 1976 in Rio, Brazil. The boy who left school to pursue a career in football. His mother famously remarked:
“I always found him on the street playing ball with friends when he should have been in school. I know, I lost my battle.”
At the age of 12 he led he city youth league in scoring with a record 166 goals. Madness! He was soon spotted by former Brazilian player Jairzinho, who was coaching São Cristóvão.
The rest, well it’s astonishing. Here’s his career in kits.
CRUZEIRO 1993-1994
Aged just 16, Ronaldo made his professional debut for Cruzeiro. scoring 44 goals in JUST 47 games, leading them to their first Copa do Brasil in 1993.
PSV 1994-1996
Having been selected for the Brazil national team for USA ‘94 at just 17, Ronaldo was now in the thoughts of a number of European clubs. But it was PSV, (Romario's old team) that would welcome the Brazilian.
In his first season at PSV, Ronaldo romped to 30 league goals in his first season. In his time at PSV he scored 42 in 46 games.
BARCELONA 1996-1997
Gaining even further attention, Ronaldo signed for Barcelona for a world record fee of €19.5 million in 1996. After 37 appearances and 34, aged only 20, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year.
“Some players were technical, some were quick, some were strong, some were smart... Ronaldo was all of those. He was a beast; it was unfair to everyone else.”- José Mourinho
INTER MILAN 1997-2002
In 1997 the Italian club bought Ronaldo for another world record fee. This time – €27 million and change.
In keeping with his consistent starting record, Ronaldo scored 25 goals in his debut season. So much was his talent, Ronaldo went on to be named Serie A footballer of the year.
Halfway through his first season he won FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time, and collected the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best striker in the world. At the end of the 1998–1999 season, he was appointed
Inter Milan captain.
Ronaldo’s recurring injury problems forced him to miss the entire 2000–01 season. After a lengthy rehabilitation Ronaldo returned for the 2002 World Cup, helping Brazil win their fifth WC trophy.
REAL MADRID 2002-2007
In 2002 Ronaldo signed for real Madrid for €46 million, making up the Galácticos era of global stars signed by the club. Ronaldo scored 23 league goals in his first season with Madrid. helping the team to seal the La Liga title for 2003.
In four and a half seasons at MADRID, he scored over a century of goals. Ronaldo was named by Marca as a member of the “Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid’s history.
A.C. MILAN 2007-2008
In January 2007, Ronaldo agreed terms with A.C. Milan for a transfer fee of €8.05 million. He made twenty appearances for the Milanese club scoring nine times. before a further injury put an end to his career with the Italians.
CORINTHIANS 2009-2011
Ronaldo made his debut for Corinthians in A Copa do Brasil match against Itumbiara at Estádio Juscelino Kubitschek. He went on to spend two seasons at the club, making a total of 31 appearances and scoring 18 goals.
BRAZILIAN NATIONAL SIDE.
1994-2011
The second-highest goalscorer for the national team...
98 APPEARANCES
68 GOALS
O Fenômeno,
(or simply, Ronaldo)
We salute you.