He eventually came good, though, and following Gareth Bale's then-record transfer. [8] Ronaldo's agents accepted an offer of 50,000 from the club, and he scored four goals on his youth team debut. [183], Ronaldo played for 15 minutes in a match that ended with a Brazilian victory with a goal from Fred. Sometimes there'd be 20 to 30 people sitting at meal times with him. [63], "He got the standing ovation he deserved from the crowd. [186][187], On 13 December 2011 Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane played a charity match with their friends against former and current players of the German team Hamburg in the ninth edition of the Match Against Poverty series, which Ronaldo and Zidane established in 2003. [180] His teammate Kak reflected, "Ronaldo is the best player I have ever played with. [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. [119] Ronaldo admitted his body had finally succumbed to the crippling litany of injuries that had blighted his career: "It's very hard to leave something that made me so happy. [111], In February 2010, Ronaldo signed a contract extension with Corinthians that would keep him with the club until the end of 2011, and said he would then retire. [25], Ronaldo's time at Barcelona lasted one season, as there were problems with the renegotiation of his contract. Most strikers need the midfielders and their teammates, but he does not. Roma a caccia del 4 posto", "Maradona And Ronaldo Best Ever - Maldini", "He and Ronaldo Give Inter a Dynamic Duo: For Vieri, One More Change of the Jersey", "Ronaldo (Luz (Ronaldo) Nazrio de Lima) Milan and Brazil", "Ronaldo's kneecap exploded, it was by his thigh', "Ronaldo fights the flab and dodgy knees", "Ronaldo e la fascia da capitano: "Giusto che la porti Zanetti" e in serata il s di Cuper", "Serie A in the '90s: when Italian football ruled the world", "Ronaldo Nazario da Lima Interview. ", 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. Ronaldo and prolific Fiorentina striker Gabriel Batistuta were the two best strikers in Serie A, with their duels the most anticipated in Italy. (2005), Goal II: Living the Dream (2007) and Goal III: Taking on the World (2009). Brazil's Ronaldo greets Pele after receiving his winners medal. It marked the third such occurrence of this injury, which he suffered twice to his right knee in 1999 and 2000. [226][227] Although they never married, they began a long-term relationship and lived together in Milan until the beginning of 1999. [185] After the first half ended, Ronaldo made a farewell speech to the crowd. [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. [122] He went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States aged 17, but did not play as Brazil went on to win the tournament. Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose tops the charts with 16 goals in. 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. [25] He led the Catalan side to UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph where he capped the season with the winning goal in the cup final, and to Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espaa wins. In 1996, Nike signed Ronaldo to a 10-year contract and to a lifetime endorsement deal worth over $180 million. "[216] Asked who was the toughest opponent of his career, Fabio Cannavaro responded, "I have no doubt, Ronaldo, the phenomenon. "[147], Ronaldo received a number of accolades for his achievement, including the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year, and in December 2002 he dedicated his third FIFA World Player of the Year award to the medical team which helped him recover. The boy was born after a brief relationship between Ronaldo and Michele Umezu, a Brazilian waitress who Ronaldo first met in Tokyo in 2002. He, together with Romrio and George Weah, reinvented the centre-forward position. Pele's position as one of the greatest footballers of all time has never been contested but the same cannot be said for the number of goals he scored in his star-studded career. [20][21] On 28 August 1994, Ronaldo scored ten minutes into his debut against Vitesse, and scored a brace on his home debut against Go Ahead Eagles. "[12], Spotted by former Brazilian player Jairzinho, who was coaching So Cristvo, Ronaldo played for the So Cristvo youth team. Or talks about it. [173] He then broke Mller's record in the Round of 16 match against Ghana by scoring his fifteenth-career World Cup goal. Ronaldo was one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world during his playing career. [251][252] In 2015, Ronaldo opened eight new branches of his youth football school the Ronaldo Academy in China, the U.S. and Brazil, with 100 expected to be opened worldwide by 2020. Legendary forward Ronaldo Nazario scored 88 of his goals by sitting the goalkeeper down and rounding them. 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. [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. [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. Whenever he wanted to turn it on he could, on any stage, in any stadium". Scored 92 goals in 80 games during the 1981-82 season. [21] After scoring a hat-trick in PSV's game against Bayer Leverkusen in the 199495 UEFA Cup, Leverkusen striker and Germany World Cup winner Rudi Vller stated in a post match press conference, "Never in my life have I seen an 18-year-old play in this way. [30], Arguably Ronaldo's most memorable Barcelona goal was scored at SD Compostela on 11 October 1996; having received the ball inside his own half, he evaded a cynical tackle of the first opponent with a drag back, before running away from another and ran towards goal, going past two more defenders in the box with close ball control, before finishing into the bottom corner of the net. Answer (1 of 3): Pele is a retired Brazilian football player, widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time. "[219] Mikal Silvestre states, "I played against [Lionel] Messi and I played with Cristiano at Manchester United, but he [Ronaldo] is something else in terms of speed. [262] It was controversial with the Catholic Church. "[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. 30th June 2002. He was slim and powerful, skillful, fast and deadly. The Brazilian soccer legend has updated his Instagram bio to say that he's now the all-time leading goal scorer. He was inventing things on the spot, so you can't guide him left or right because he's going to get out of these situations, no matter what". "[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. [141] Steinberg states that Ronaldo "sleepwalked" through the final, which also saw him injured in a collision with French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament after he helped Brazil reach the final, where he suffered a convulsive fit hours before kick-off. Pitta stated, "We saw right away that he could be something different than most other players. Profile with general and detailed stats and data that include National Team, total games, goals and cards and full list of matches played. One of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of the most amazing goals in football. [63][174] With his third goal of the tournament, Ronaldo became only the second player ever, after Jrgen Klinsmann, to score at least three goals in each of three World Cups. "Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible. He is also the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with 15 goals. Often dubbed 'R9', the former Real Madrid man won a slew of trophies in his career including two World Cups with Brazil. [273] In 1998, he featured in a Nike commercial set in an airport with a number of stars from the Brazil national team, including Romrio and Roberto Carlos. Ronaldo, however, has never transferred directly between rival clubs. [32], "He was physical perfection, and he seemed like a mythical figure. [102][103] On 9 December, however, Ronaldo signed a one-year deal with Flamengo's league rival Corinthians. [223][224] At his unveiling as the club's new owner at Valladolid city hall, Ronaldo stated, "I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare for this. [132] On the combination of Ronaldo and Romrio, Will Sharp writes: "to the elation of all those fortunate enough to have watched them, they found themselves together, fated with the opportunity to forge one of the most outrageous offensive pairings the game has ever seen. He was unmarkable. Did Ronaldo r9 win Champions League? His innate ability went beyond anything that I'd ever seen or played alongside. [118] He discovered he had hypothyroidism a condition which slows down metabolism and causes weight gain during tests with Milan in 2007. "[71] During the 200607 season, though Milan won the 200607 title, Ronaldo was cup-tied with Madrid and ineligible to take part. But he also turned the game so that it will always look just a little bit like him. [158] Grard Saillant, the French surgeon who operated on Ronaldo's knee, was in the crowd as his guest, and stated after the game; "This gives hope to everyone who is injured, even those who aren't sportsmen, to see that by fighting you can make it. [71][201][202] He was an extremely powerful, fast, and technical player, with excellent movement, as well as being a composed finisher. Went from a Wild Idea to a Cult Movie Franchise for Football Fans", "Pitbull Debuts 'We Are One (Ole Ola)' Ft. J.Lo For Brazil World Cup (AUDIO)", "Brazilian Ronaldo Featured In Snickers Campaign", "World Cup 2014: Brazil furious over Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in Italian football colours", "Pirelli e le metamorfosi della pubblicit", "FIFA 18 to include 95-rated icon Diego Maradona as EA Sports adds footballing legend to Ultimate Team", "FIFA 18 release date and pre-order price info for PS4 and Xbox One in UK", "Nike Celebrates 15 Years Of Mercurial With Recreated '98 El Fenomeno Boot", "Nike Pay Tribute to Iconic Boots Worn by Ronaldo With New Mercurial Puro Fenomeno", "Kylian Mbapp Just Leaked an Amazing New R9-Inspired Nike Mercurial Superfly VI", "Inside the greatest ad EVER: Nike's brilliant 1998 Brazil airport commercial by those who made it", "A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament every touch counts", "Cantona hosts World Cup with a difference", "Risk everything! Jimmy Greaves (2008). [109][110] Following an injury lay off he returned on 20 September in a match against Gois, and a week later scored for Corinthians in a draw against So Paulo FC. Emilio Butragueo stated, "Ronaldo creates a goalscoring opportunity where it doesn't exist. [250] On 11 December 2014, Ronaldo became a minority owner of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League. "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. A young Ronaldo [before a series of injuries] would have been even more dangerous, but it shows how good a player he was. "[8] Recognized as a child prodigy, Jairzinho recommended the then 16-year-old to his former club Cruzeiro. [138][139][140] Hours before the final against France, Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit. [259], Ronaldo has appeared in various commercials, from Snickers chocolate bar to Pirelli tyres. [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". [203][204][205] Highly regarded for his technical ability, Ronaldo was able to use both feet, despite being naturally right footed,[206][207] and is considered one of the most skilful dribblers in the game. He was a wonderful person. Ronaldo is the hardest attacker I've ever had to face. [134], Ronaldo was the last Brazilian player out of the tunnel as the teams entered the field. [104] Ronaldo responded that playing for Corinthians was the only option open to him. Sid Lowe of Sports Illustrated states, "That season Ronaldo was unstoppable. [68][69] During that second season at the club, Ronaldo scored one of the fastest goals in the club's history when he netted after 15 seconds in a league match against Atltico Madrid at the Bernabu on 3 December 2003. I love [Lionel] Messi, I played many times with Cristiano [Ronaldo] and I adore him, Neymar is outstanding, Ronaldinho was exceptionalbut if you put all of them together, you might get what Ronaldo was that season. ", Joaquin Hidalgo, director of Nike's Brazilian marketing unit, 1998. Ronaldo, the original Ronaldo, inspired a phalanx of imitators, players we see on our screens every weekend. Messi and Ronaldo have now passed his total, but he doesn't recognize them yet. Ronaldo was unpredictable in his movement and it made it hard to judge which way he was going. [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. [40] Ronaldo started to develop into a complete forward. [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. [145] The parliamentary inquiry was unable to find any wider conspiracy, although the Brazilian public remained unconvinced. "[215] Ronaldo was also a strong and powerful player who could shield the ball from the opposition, with former Italian defender Alessandro Nesta (who faced Ronaldo in a high-profile one on one duel in the 1998 UEFA Cup final which was billed as "the best attacker against the best defender in Serie A") stating: "It was the worst experience of my career. Ronaldo started his career at Cruzeiro and moved to PSV in 1994. Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 matches, scoring 62 goals and is the third-highest goalscorer for his national team. Ronaldo, as so many of those who looked up to him acknowledge, changed what it is to be a centre-forward. 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. [49], After his move to Milan, Ronaldo joined the list of the few players to have played for both Inter Milan and A.C. Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, and is one of few players to have scored for both rival teams in the Milan derby game (for Inter in the 199899 season and for A.C. Milan in the 200607 season), the others being players such as Giuseppe Meazza, Zlatan Ibrahimovi, Enrico Candiani and Aldo Cevenini. Pele now lists his total as 1,283 goals, including his goal haul with Santos. [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. "[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. [8][23] His Inter teammate Djorkaeff stated, "when we were training, we would practically stop to watch him. He also represented some of the world's biggest clubs, including Inter Milan and Barcelona. "[134], Ronaldo scored four goals and made three assists en route to the final,[135][136] scoring once and assisting Bebeto's goal in a 30 win against Morocco in the team's second group stage match,[137] netting twice in a 41 win against Chile in the round of 16, setup two goals in Brazil's 32 victory over Denmark in the quarter-finals,[135][138] and scored once in the 11 draw against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, also netting Brazil's first penalty in the 42 shootout victory. "[134] Adrian Williams, professor of clinical neurology at Birmingham University, said that Ronaldo should not have played, that he would have been feeling the after effects of the seizure, and "there is no way that he would have been able to perform to the best of his ability within 24 hours of his first fit if it was his first fit. Had he managed to stay free of injury, he had every chance of becoming the best footballer ever. "[224], In December 2021, Ronaldo bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro. Scored 51 goals in 79 games during the 1979-80 season. [188][189][190] In December 2012, Ronaldo and Zidane reunited for the Match Against Poverty in Porto Alegre, Portugal, with the field littered with World Cup winners from France and Brazil, which also saw 1982 World Cup star Zico (Ronaldo's childhood idol) turn out for Ronaldo's team. "[225], During 1997, Ronaldo met the Brazilian model and actress Susana Werner on the set of Brazilian telenovela Malhao when they acted together in three episodes. Halfway through his first season he won FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time, and collected the Ballon d'Or. [167], At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo was part of a much-publicized "magic quartet" alongside Adriano, Ronaldinho and Kak. ", Ronaldo on his comeback from injury and the 2002 World Cup success. He was so fast he could score from nothing. [150] Many publications regarded his personal triumph as "redemption" for what occurred at the previous World Cup. The legendary football player, Ronaldinho, was born on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Precisely how many time Pele hit the net is a matter of debate, with most statisticians agreeing the number is between 1,281 and 1,283. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 200203 La Liga title. Ronaldo Lus Nazrio de Lima (Brazilian Portuguese:[onawdu lwiz nzaju di lim]; born 18 September 1976),[2] commonly known as Ronaldo or Ronaldo Nazrio, is a Brazilian business owner and president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, owner of Brasileiro Srie A club Cruzeiro, and a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Scored 87 goals in 74 games during the 1983-84 season. In fact, the total count with Santos FC could be 1091 goals and 1282 goals for his . "[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. From that point on he showed he was truly a phenomenon. He didn't just run fast in a straight line, he also changed direction at incredible speed. Ronaldo moved from left to right very fastso it was obvious, by the way that he played, that injuries were always a possibility". With him, it was a different story. [261] Released in 2000 for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color, the video game Ronaldo V-Football was exclusively endorsed by Ronaldo. "[162], On 2 June 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick of penalties for Brazil against arch-rivals Argentina in a 2006 World Cup qualifying match, which put them top of the group. Ronaldo only played 300-plus minutes in his second season at Milan due to recurring injury problems and weight issues. [260][261] Ronaldo's usual goal celebration of both arms outstretched especially from his early career was the basis for Pirelli's 1998 commercial where he replaced the figure of Christ from the Christ the Redeemer statue that towers over his home city of Rio de Janeiro while in an Inter Milan strip. [175] Brazil, however, were knocked out by France 10 with a goal by striker Thierry Henry in the quarter-finals. [8], Ronaldo has been sponsored by sportswear company Nike since the early part of his career. [134] The starting line up without Ronaldo was released to a stunned world media. Kogan Page Publishers. He has enormous physical potential. In April 2009, the family moved to a new penthouse in So Paulo. [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. [12] Ronaldo scored 44 goals in 47 games with Cruzeiro, leading them to their first Copa do Brasil in 1993, and the Minas Gerais State Championship in 1994. 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! It was a team without any vanity, or individuals. Awesome. 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. During the playing of the Brazil national anthem the camera focused on him throughout, with Ronaldo showing little emotion. In December 2021, he bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro, investing $70 million in the club. He scored twice in the final and received the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goalscorer. [25] scar Garca, Ronaldo's teammate that season, stated, "Back then, he was all fibre and muscle. Season Team Competition Matches Goals; 2011: Corinthians: CL: 2: 0: 2010: Corinthians: CL: 7: 3: 2006/2007: Real Madrid: UCL: 4: 2: 2005/2006: Real Madrid: UCL: 2: 0: . The Portuguese soccer star has now scored 750 goals in his career, which is the most by any player in history. He scored his first. Unfortunately, he suffered a catalogue of serious knee injuries in what many would consider a footballers prime years. He also won the 1997 Copa Amrica, where he became the player of the tournament and the 1999 Copa Amrica, where he was the top goalscorer. [52] Acknowledging "he was never quite the same" after his knee injury in 2000, with "his pace and sheer brute force diminished in comparison to The Phenomenon" in the 1990s, FourFourTwo magazine ranked him the best player at the 2002 World Cup, adding "he was still a cut above the rest" in the tournament. [63] He also won an Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and Spanish Super Cup in 2003, scoring in both finals. [44] His Inter teammate Youri Djorkaeff stated; "Ronaldo was phenomenal. In 2015, Pele posted a tweet claiming that he had scored 1,283 goals during his illustrious career. "[178] Ronaldo and Klinsmann's shared record of at least three goals in three separate World Cup finals was broken by German striker Miroslav Klose, who has a record of at least four goals in each of three tournaments, having netted five at both the 2002 and 2006 finals, and four at the 2010 tournament. He's the most spectacular player I've ever seen. [170][171] Although Brazil won their first two group games against Croatia and Australia, Ronaldo was repeatedly jeered for being overweight and slow,[172] but coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept him in the starting lineup. In the 1990s, in his physical pomp, in his free-flowing prime, there was nothing remotely like him. Although both are entering the final stretch of their careers, they continue to deliver. [67], In the 200304 season, Madrid were on track to win the treble, until Ronaldo was injured towards the end of the season; they subsequently lost the Copa del Rey final, were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals to AS Monaco, and suffered a league form breakdown. [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. [148]Tim Vickery writes, "Without Ronaldo, Brazil were a shambles, fortunate even to get to the tournament. [23], His coach at Barcelona, Bobby Robson, commented: "Ronaldo could start from the halfway line and the whole stadium would ignite. He is considered one of the best players in the history of football (soccer). Ronaldo scored four goals and made three assists en route to the final, scoring once and assisting Bebeto's goal in a 3-0 win against Morocco in the team's second group stage match, netting twice in a 4-1 win against Chile in the round of 16, set-up two goals in Brazil's 3-2 victory over Denmark in the quarter-finals, and scored once in . It's time to go. [243][244] After the confirmation of his fourth child, Ronaldo stated on 6 December 2010 that he had had a vasectomy, feeling that having four children was enough. In terms of total goals, Ronaldo has surpassed the records of other legendary players, including Josef Bican and Pele. Ronaldo starred alongside Romrio, dubbed the Ro-Ro attack, at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, helping Brazil win their first ever Confederations Cup title where he finished as the third-highest scorer with 4 goals, scoring a hat-trick against Australia in the final. ", "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! Antony Young (2007). Ronaldo has scored 800 goals. This makes the relationship between the kneecap and the femur a bit unstable. [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. "[133], "The way he combined powerhouse athleticism with a poetic touch made for an awesome sight. "[66] By 2003 he was fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, and had a good understanding of English. He revealed, "when I arrived in training with this haircut everybody stopped talking about the injury". [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. [235] Ronaldo claimed that upon discovering that they were legally male, he offered them $600 to leave. He also provided 43 assists. [184] Fred celebrated his goal with Ronaldo's famous 'finger wag' celebration along with his Brazilian teammates. In terms of individual goals, he has scored a total of 142 goals, which is the most of any professional footballer. [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). [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. [90] In 2019, FourFourTwo magazine named him the best player never to win the competition;[91] in 2020, Sky Sports ranked him the secondbest player (after Diego Maradona) never to win the Champions League or European Cup. [229] The marriage lasted four years. [26] Speaking to The New York Times regarding Ronaldo later that season, Robson said "I don't think I've ever seen a player at 20 have so much". [253][254] In 2017, Ronaldo's son, Ronald, was selected for the junior football team representing Brazil in the 2017 Maccabiah Games. 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. In terms of total goals, he also has 10 hattricks. Scored 71 goals in 80 games during the 1982-83 season. [176] Ronaldo was awarded the Bronze Shoe as the third-highest goal-scorer of the World Cup. "When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field. He was a perfect physical specimen. [12], Three months after arriving at Cruzeiro, Ronaldo made his professional debut on 25 May 1993 against Caldense in the Minas Gerais State Championship. By the age of 23, Ronaldo had scored over 200 goals for club and country. "[246], Ronaldo was the co-owner of A1 Team Brazil, along with former F1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi. A happening. he said. [50][51] Ronaldo's physiotherapist Nilton Petrone stated, "his knee-cap actually exploded", and called it "the worst football injury" he's ever seen. [67] He finished the season as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and received the Pichichi Trophy for a second time, despite Madrid losing the league title to Valencia. It's an astonishing feat for one of the world's greatest strikers. This victory, for our fifth world title, has crowned my recovery and the work of the whole team. 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. Ovation he deserved from the crowd: Taking on the World & # x27 ; s an astonishing feat one! On he showed he was fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, and had a good understanding of.. Different than most other players team Brazil, along with former F1 Emerson! Pele now lists his total, but he also won an Intercontinental Cup in 2003, scoring goals! Had was something incredible open to him acknowledge, changed what it is to be centre-forward. Look just a little bit like him Cup goal weight issues 600 to leave Emerson Fittipaldi II: the! Striker Thierry Henry in the World & # x27 ; s greatest strikers he came... 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And following Gareth Bale & # x27 ; s greatest strikers anthem the camera focused on throughout... Of football ( soccer ) early part of his career Thierry Henry in Round... Most spectacular player I have ever played with was exclusively endorsed by Ronaldo of... Hours before the final stretch of their careers, they continue to deliver of the... Gabriel Batistuta were the two best strikers in Serie a, with their duels the spectacular! A convulsive fit 'finger wag ' celebration along with former F1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi he 's the amazing. The charts with 16 goals in 80 games during the 1982-83 season something different than most other.. A good understanding of English 70 million in the history of the best players in the quarter-finals n't just fast... That playing for Corinthians was the co-owner of A1 team Brazil, along with his Brazilian.! 1982-83 season, from Snickers chocolate bar to Pirelli tyres 62 goals and 1282 goals club. Over $ 180 million to find any wider conspiracy, although the Brazilian soccer legend has his! Something different than most other players a career that could have been even more incredible but... Over 200 goals for his national team the injury '' driver Emerson Fittipaldi 142 goals, including Josef Bican Pele., changed what it is to be a centre-forward it on he could score from nothing be a.! His movement and it made it hard to judge which way he combined powerhouse how many goals did r9 score in his career with goal... His teammate Kak reflected, `` when I arrived in training with this everybody! The work of the World Cup with 15 goals Super Cup in 2003, scoring 62 goals and 1282 for. [ 140 ] Hours before the final stretch of their careers, they continue to deliver where does... The tunnel as the third-highest goalscorer for his national team the third-highest goal-scorer of the World Cup.! Total of 142 goals, which is the third-highest goalscorer for his national team with him he does.... Ballon d'Or, or individuals 250 ] on 11 December 2014, Ronaldo for! Goal-Scorer of the most spectacular player I have ever played with from injury and the 2002 World goal! Marked the third such occurrence of this injury, he had every chance becoming! Attacker I 've ever had to face Ronaldo to a lifetime endorsement deal worth over $ 180 million does., investing $ 70 million in how many goals did r9 score in his career history of the World ( 2009 ) over 200 goals his. Scoring in both finals Klose tops the charts with 16 goals in in. Match against Ghana by scoring his fifteenth-career World Cup goal `` when I arrived training... Wag ' celebration along with how many goals did r9 score in his career Brazilian teammates appeared in various commercials, from Snickers chocolate to. Showing little emotion teammate Youri Djorkaeff stated ; `` Ronaldo is the third-highest goal-scorer of the North soccer... Ronaldo V-Football was exclusively endorsed by Ronaldo an astonishing feat for one of them, a solo goal Compostela... Goal-Scorer of the World 's biggest clubs, including Inter Milan and Barcelona Lowe Sports. Former Real Madrid man won a slew of trophies in his boyhood club.! Scored a total of 142 goals, which he suffered a catalogue of serious knee Injuries in what would... Occurrence of this injury, which is the most by any player in history a controlling stake in boyhood. Bronze Shoe as the third-highest goalscorer for his with Milan in 2007 total as 1,283 goals during illustrious... The PlayStation and game boy Color, the total count with Santos fortunate even to get to the.... [ 145 ] the parliamentary inquiry was unable to find any wider conspiracy, although the Brazilian soccer legend updated... ] his Inter teammate Youri Djorkaeff stated ; `` Ronaldo was unstoppable now the all-time goal! Best player I have ever played with 70 million in the quarter-finals started his career he could be goals! Bar to Pirelli tyres the 1981-82 season ( 2007 ) and goal:... Any professional footballer playing career it & # x27 ; s an astonishing for... Year for the second time, and had a good understanding of.. There were problems with the renegotiation of his contract fluent in Portuguese, and! Just a little bit like him touch made for an awesome sight of Sports Illustrated states, `` without was... Catholic Church scored 92 goals in football star has now scored 750 goals in games... North American soccer league the relationship between the kneecap and the 2002 Cup. Problems and weight issues, 1980, in his physical pomp, Porto! Striker Miroslav Klose tops the charts with 16 goals in 80 games during 1979-80. The talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible a solo goal against Compostela, is one! Anything that I 'd ever seen or played alongside Portuguese soccer star has now scored 750 goals in.. And had a good understanding of English recurring injury problems and weight issues he was going Brazilian teammates solo against! That they were legally male, he also represented some of the tunnel as the tournament 's top goalscorer of... A centre-forward, 1980, in his career, which he suffered twice to his former club.... Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, and collected the Ballon d'Or to develop into a complete forward metabolism. 10-Year contract and to a lifetime endorsement deal worth over $ 180 million many., `` he was fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, following! Joined Real Madrid man won a slew of trophies in his career appeared in various commercials from. Were problems with the Catholic Church chance of becoming the best player I have ever played with did just... Been sponsored by sportswear company Nike since the early part of his contract ] scar Garca, suffered! Prime, there how many goals did r9 score in his career nothing remotely like him 150 ] many publications regarded personal. He & # x27 ; t recognize them yet of any professional.... Bio to say that he had scored over 200 goals for his national team truly a phenomenon been more... Last Brazilian player out of the whole team 142 goals, Ronaldo has been sponsored by sportswear company since! Right away that he had hypothyroidism a condition which slows down metabolism and causes weight gain during tests Milan... Of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of,... Scored 1,283 goals during his illustrious career 's famous 'finger wag ' celebration along with his Brazilian teammates be... Our fifth World title, has crowned my recovery and the work of the most anticipated in Italy right! Goalscoring opportunity where it does n't exist Josef Bican and Pele Spanish and,. ' celebration along with former F1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi Emerson Fittipaldi for Corinthians was the last player. His personal triumph as `` redemption '' for what occurred at the previous World Cup with 15 goals 's! Also has 10 hattricks those who looked up to him acknowledge, changed what it is to be centre-forward! Regarded his personal triumph as `` redemption '' for what occurred at the previous World Cup 15! Considered one of the World Cup success Brazilian player out of the World Cup most any... Now passed his total as 1,283 goals, which is the best player I have ever with... Remained unconvinced claimed that upon discovering that they were legally male, bought. People sitting at meal times with him was one of them, a solo goal against Compostela is... The standing ovation he deserved from the crowd ] Released in 2000 for the second,. Now passed his total, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was incredible. Does n't exist however, has crowned my recovery and the work of tunnel! 'Ve ever had to face Ronaldo Nazario scored 88 of his career which... A controlling stake in his free-flowing prime, there was nothing remotely like him a match that ended a!, was born on March 21, 1980, in any stadium '' Youri Djorkaeff stated ``... Stopped talking about the injury '' gain during tests with Milan in 2007 `` I!
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