Editing Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer) (section)

====2011: Retirement====
[[File:Ronaldo says Goodbye to Europe! (5575600354).jpg|thumb|right|Ronaldo greets fans at the [[Emirates Stadium]] in London in March 2011, one month after announcing his retirement]]

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil star Ronaldo to retire in 2011 |agency=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/02/22/brazil.ronaldo.retires/index.html |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811205954/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/02/22/brazil.ronaldo.retires/index.html |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 2011 |title=Ronaldo Renews Corinthians Contract, Will Retire In 2011 |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-latam-brazil-ronaldo-idUKTRE61L4KK20100222 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811210024/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-latam-brazil-ronaldo-idUKTRE61L4KK20100222 |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref> Commenting on his weight issues following this announcement, Brian Homewood of ''The Guardian'' stated: "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 São Paulo to get a picture with the roly‑poly star."<ref>{{cite news |last=Homewood |first=Brian |date=14 March 2010 |title=Ronaldo announces retirement after going from fab to flab |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/14/ronaldo-announces-retirement-corinthians |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811205727/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/14/ronaldo-announces-retirement-corinthians |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>

In February 2011, after Corinthians were eliminated from the 2011 Copa Libertadores by the [[Colombia]]n team [[Deportes Tolima]], Ronaldo announced his retirement from football, concluding an 18-year career.<ref name="Retirement">{{cite news |last=Gallas |first=Daniel |date=14 January 2011 |title=Ronaldo's troubled farewell |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9397354.stm |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811212457/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9397354.stm |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 February 2011 |title=Ronaldo confirma o fim da carreira (In Portuguese) |language=pt |publisher=GloboEsporte |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/corinthians/noticia/2011/02/para-jornal-ronaldo-confirma-o-fim-da-carreira-esta-na-hora.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811212500/http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/corinthians/noticia/2011/02/para-jornal-ronaldo-confirma-o-fim-da-carreira-esta-na-hora.html |archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/880463/emotional-ronaldo-confirms-retirement-from-football?cc=5739|title=Ronaldo confirms retirement|date=14 January 2011|work=ESPN Soccernet|access-date=14 February 2011|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628223154/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/880463/emotional-ronaldo-confirms-retirement-from-football?cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an emotional press conference on 14 February, he cited pain and [[hypothyroidism]] as the reasons for his premature retirement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2011/02/emocionado-ronaldo-revela-hipotiroidismo-e-da-adeus-ao-futebol.html |title=Emocionado, Ronaldo atribui adeus às dores e ao hipotireoidismo |access-date=14 February 2011 |date=14 February 2011 |publisher=Globo.com |archive-date=25 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725111158/http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2011/02/emocionado-ronaldo-revela-hipotiroidismo-e-da-adeus-ao-futebol.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He discovered he had hypothyroidism – a condition which slows down metabolism and causes weight gain – during tests with Milan in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brazil soccer legend Ronaldo retires |agency=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/02/14/football.ronaldo.brazil.barcelona/index.html |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214215817/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/02/14/football.ronaldo.brazil.barcelona/index.html |archive-date=14 February 2011}}</ref>

The player said that the problem could be solved by taking hormones, but this practice is forbidden in football and would lead to a suspension for doping.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2011/02/emocionado-ronaldo-revela-hipotiroidismo-e-da-adeus-ao-futebol.html |title=Emocionado, Ronaldo atribui adeus às dores e ao hipotireoidismo |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=6 January 2021 |publisher=GloboEsporte.com |author=Carlos Augusto Ferrari e Leandro Canônico |archive-date=25 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725111158/http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2011/02/emocionado-ronaldo-revela-hipotiroidismo-e-da-adeus-ao-futebol.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, doctors disagree that such treatment would be confused with doping, with some publicly claiming that Ronaldo had lied when he said could not treat his hypothyroidism.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/saude/ronaldo-mentiu-ao-dizer-que-nao-podia-tratar-hipotireoidismo/ |title=Ronaldo mentiu ao dizer que não podia tratar hipotireoidismo |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=6 January 2021 |publisher=VEJA |author=Jones Rossi |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111222037/https://veja.abril.com.br/saude/ronaldo-mentiu-ao-dizer-que-nao-podia-tratar-hipotireoidismo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Corinthians' own doctor said that Ronaldo did not have this disease. Hypothyroidism is usually associated with a slight weight gain (eminently due to fluid accumulation, not fat gain) and difficulty getting rid of extra pounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.viomundo.com.br/voce-escreve/especialistas-alertam-hipotiroidismo-nao-causa-obesidade-nem-o-remedio-para-a-doenca-da-doping.html |title=Especialistas alertam: Hipotiroidismo não causa obesidade nem remédio para a doença dá doping |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=6 January 2021 |publisher=Viomundo |author=Conceição Lemes |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125165830/https://www.viomundo.com.br/voce-escreve/especialistas-alertam-hipotiroidismo-nao-causa-obesidade-nem-o-remedio-para-a-doenca-da-doping.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI212342-15230,00-A+GORDURA+DE+RONALDO+A+TIREOIDE+E+A+PAIXAO.html |title=A gordura de Ronaldo, a tireoide e a paixão |date=18 February 2011 |access-date=6 January 2021 |publisher=Revista Época |author=Cristiane Segatto |archive-date=18 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918170346/http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI212342-15230,00-A+GORDURA+DE+RONALDO+A+TIREOIDE+E+A+PAIXAO.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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. Mentally I wanted to continue but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body. The head wants to go on but the body can't take any more. I think of an action but I can't do it the way I want to. It's time to go."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/14/ronaldo-retires-lost-to-my-body|title=Ronaldo admits in emotional retirement address: 'I lost to my body'|date=14 January 2011|work=Guardian|access-date=14 February 2011|location=London|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103907/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/14/ronaldo-retires-lost-to-my-body|url-status=live}}</ref>