Ronaldo

Ronaldo Luiz Nazário de Lima (b. September 22, 1976), simply known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian footballer who is widely considered to be one of the best strikers of all time.

Ronaldo celebratingIn 1993, aged 16, Ronaldo had already scored 59 goals in 57 matches for Brazil's under 17 squad. By 1994 he had joined the squad of the national team, but didn't get to play a single minute on the pitch of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

In 1996–1997, Ronaldo played arguably his best season, scoring numerous spectacular goals for FC Barcelona. One of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of the most amazing goals in football.

Chosen the World's best player in 1996 and 1997, he had a disappointing performance during the 1998 World Cup, scoring only 4 goals, and losing the final to host team France after suffering a mysterious fit in the night before. The fit's circumstances still remain unclear and a source of speculation.

He then moved to a club he considered more promising and more respected: Inter Milan. Fans all over the world jumped the bandwagon and supported the world's most glamorous footballer, receiving praise from the Italians all over. Ronaldo's fame grew as he was contantly in the action for the Italian juggernauts.

In April 1999, Ronaldo married Milene Domingues. The marriage lasted 4 years and ended in a divorce.

A year later, he severely injured his right knee and was out of the game for several months. During his first comeback in 2000, he managed to play a few minutes during a league game against Lazio before injuring his knee for a second time.

After 2 operations and 20 months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo managed a comeback during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals during the tournament (and tied with Pelé for a Brazilian record 12 total World Cup goals), leading Brazil to win an unprecedented fifth World Championship. In 2002, he was awarded the title of the World's best soccer player for the third time, and transferred from Inter Milan to Real Madrid after frequent disputes with current Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper.

On June 2, 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick for Brazil against archrivals Argentina in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2006 World Cup. He scored all of Brazil's goals in a 3-1 win via penalty kicks.

As of 2004, Ronaldo is still playing football, and is still considered one of the world's best strikers.

Full name: Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima
DOB: September 22, 1976
Birthplace: Bento Ribeiro, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Other nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 82 kg

Club: Real Madrid CF
Position: Forward [C]
Number: 9
Contract Expires: June 2009
Previous Clubs: Sao Cristovao > Cruzeiro > (€6m) PSV > (€19m) Barcelona > (€30.5m) Internazionale > (€45m) Real Madrid

International debut: March 1994, v Argentina
Caps: 91
Goals: 58
World Cups: USA 1994, France 1998, Japan-Korea 2002, Germany 2006
Palmares:
FIFA World Cup (94, 02)
Copa America (97, 99)
Confederations Cup (97)

South American Supercup (93)
Intercontinental Cup (02)
UEFA Cup Winners Cup (97)
UEFA Cup (98)

Brazilian Cup (93)
Dutch Cup (96)
Spanish Supercup (96, 03)
Spanish Liga Primera (03)

Dutch League Top Scorer (96)
FIFA World Player of the Year (96, 97, 02)
World Soccer Player of the Year (96, 97, 02)
U-21 European Footballer of the Year (97, 98)
Spanish Liga Primera Top Scorer (97, 04)
European Footballer of the Year (97, 02)
FIFA World Cup MVP (98, 02)
Italian Serie A Footballer of the Year (98)
Copa America Top Scorer (99)
FIFA World Cup Top Scorer (02)
Intercontinental Cup MVP (02)


1976
Born September 22 in Bento Ribeiro, a poor neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro.
1993
A teenage prodigy with Cruziero, Ronaldo scored 58 goals in 60 games before moving on to Europe.
May: Wins Brazilian cup with Cruzeiro, his first professional title.
1994
March: Makes National team debut against Argentina.
June: Member of the Brazilian team that win World Cup, altough he sat on the bench for all matches.
July: Signs with PSV for 6m euros fee.
1996
May: Wins Dutch Cup with PSV.
June: Signs for Spanish giants Barcelona.
August: Member of the Brazilian team that won the Bronze Medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games.
December: Wins his first FIFA World Player of the year award.
1997
May: Converts the decisive penalty which clinched the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup for the Catalan club; Barcelona fails to win the Spanish League title as Ronaldo ends as the league top scorer.
June: Wins Copa America with Brazil, ends tournament as second best top scorer with 5 goals.
July: Joins FC Internazionale for a world record 30.5m euros fee.
December: First player to retain his title as FIFA World Player of the Year; First South American to win the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award.
1998
May: Scores 1 goals as Internazionale defeats Lazio 3-0 in the UEFA Cup final.
July: Helps Brazil to reach the final at the World Cup finals, but a mysterious and terrific display against France saw the Brazilians defeated 3-0.
1999
April: Marries Milene Domingues, the marriage lasted four years and ended in divorce.
July: Wins second Copa America, ends competition as top scorer with 5 goals.
October: Scores Inter's fifth goal in a 6-0 win over Lecce but later limped off with a knee injury which required surgery and kept him sidelined for six months.
2000
April: Returns to action in the Italian Cup final, but ruptured a knee ligament just six minutes into a appearance as a second-half substitute. Causing him to miss the entire 2000/1 season.
2001
September: Makes his return to official action against Romanian side Brasov in the UEFA Cup first round.
November: Makes his first Italian League appearance for almost two years, but limps out of his Serie A comeback with a thigh injury after just 14 minutes against Lecce at the San Siro.
2002
June: Inspires Brazil to win their 5th World Cup trophy, finish the competition as top scorer with 8 goals, 2 of them in the final.
July: Signs for Real Madrid.
December: Named Intercontinental Club Cup's MVP as Real Madrid defeats Olimpia in Yokohama; Wins third FIFA World Player of the year award; Wins second European Footballer of the Year award.
2003
May: Ends first season at Madrid, scoring 21 times in 30 domestic matches as they won the Primera Division title.
2004
May: Madrid fails to retain title as Ronaldo ends as the league top scorer.
2005
February: Marries Daniella Cicarelli, their relationship lasted only 3 months.
November: Given Spanish citizenship.
2006
May: Turns down a $120 million, 10-year offer to play for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.