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Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)
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==Club career== ===Cruzeiro=== Ronaldo quickly attracted attention from big clubs, and his agents rejected offers from [[Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas|Botafogo]] and [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Joshua |date=22 September 2023 |title=Ronaldo Fenomeno's rise in Brazil: 'It was as if he'd come from the moon' |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/the-making-of-o-fenomeno-in-brazil-it-was-as-if-he-had-come-from-the-moon |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Planet Football |language=en}}</ref> He was turned down by [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]], the team he supported as a boy, after missing practice due to an inability to afford the fare for the hour-long bus ride.<ref name="Wash post" /><ref>"The Global Art of Soccer" (2006). P. 174</ref> Jairzinho saw Ronaldo's potential and helped get him a move to [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]].<ref name="Wash post"/> Ronaldo's agents accepted an offer of €50,000 from the club, and he scored four goals on his youth team debut.<ref name="OFenomono"/> Three months after arriving at Cruzeiro, Ronaldo made his professional debut on 25 May 1993 against [[Caldense]] in the [[Minas Gerais State Championship]].<ref name="OFenomono"/><ref name="Cruzeiro">[http://m.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2013/m=10/news=ronaldo-history-goals-can-erased-2201316.html "Ronaldo: My history & goals can't be erased"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082654/http://m.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2013/m=10/news=ronaldo-history-goals-can-erased-2201316.html |date=19 August 2014 }}. FIFA.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014</ref> His first senior goal came in a friendly during a tour of Portugal, scoring a goal against [[C.F. Os Belenenses|Belenenses]] and generally impressing new coach [[Carlos Alberto Silva]], enough to become a first team regular.<ref name="OFenomono"/> During the tour, his performance against [[FC Porto|Porto]] impressed enough that they bid $500,000, which was turned down by club president César Masci.<ref name="OFenomono"/> Upon returning from the 1993 summer tour, he would score 20 goals in 21 games for Cruzeiro until the end of the year. On 5 October 1993 he scored his first senior career hat-trick against Chilean side [[Colo-Colo]] (6–1) in the first home leg of the [[1993 Supercopa Libertadores|Supercopa Libertadores]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/Headline/Ronaldo-Fenomeno%E2%80%99s-rise-in-Brazil-%E2%80%98It-was-as-if-he%E2%80%99d-come-from-the-moon%E2%80%99/3279936|title= Ronaldo Fenomeno's rise in Brazil: 'It was as if he'd come from the moon'|date=22 January 2024|publisher=allfootballapp.com}}</ref> He scored two more in the second leg, further three against Uruguayan team [[Club Nacional de Football|Nacional]], and finished as the tournament's top-scorer with 8 goals,<ref name="OFenomono"/> being the youngest to do so in the history of the [[Supercopa Libertadores]]. On 7 November 1993 he came to national public attention once more by scoring five goals in Cruzeiro's 6–0 home win against [[Esporte Clube Bahia|Bahia]]<ref>Placar Magazine (Mar 2003) p. 35.</ref> in the [[1993 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]] and became the second youngest South-American in history to score a league hat-trick behind [[Pelé]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://90soccer.com/erling-haalands-beginnings-in-the-norwegian-fourth-division/|title=Erling Haaland's beginnings in Norwegian fourth division and youngest hat-tricks in history |website=90soccer.com|date=19 January 2024 |author= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/legend-fenomeno/blt87c5a55f5a2caaa7|title=Ronaldo Nazario: The legend of O Fenomeno |website=goal.com|date= 4 October 2022|author= }}</ref> Ronaldo scored a total of 44 goals in 47 games with Cruzeiro in two seasons, leading them to their first [[Copa do Brasil]] in 1993, and the Minas Gerais State Championship in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |title=How good was Ronaldo Nazario? |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/06/09/593a842e468aeb66648b460e.html |access-date=6 July 2020 |work=Marca |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707034721/https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/06/09/593a842e468aeb66648b460e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ===PSV=== Ronaldo joined [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]] after the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]]. He was selected for the tournament despite being just 17, but did not play in any games. His Brazil teammate [[Romário]], having played for PSV from 1988 to 1993, advised Ronaldo to move to the club.<ref name="Miller"/><ref name="TFT">{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=James |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/03/05/ronaldo-the-psv-diaries/ |title=Ronaldo: the PSV diaries |date=5 March 2019 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=These Football Times |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202736/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/03/05/ronaldo-the-psv-diaries/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 August 1994, Ronaldo scored ten minutes into his debut against [[SBV Vitesse|Vitesse]], and scored a brace on his home debut against [[Go Ahead Eagles]].<ref name="TFT"/> He scored 30 league goals in his first season in the Netherlands, which included seven braces and a [[List of Eredivisie hat-tricks|hat-trick]] against [[FC Utrecht|Utrecht]].<ref name="TFT"/> After scoring a hat-trick in PSV's game against [[Bayer Leverkusen]] in the [[1994–95 UEFA Cup]], Leverkusen striker and Germany World Cup winner [[Rudi Völler]] stated in a post match press conference, "Never in my life have I seen an 18-year-old play in this way."<ref name="Miller">{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Nick |title=PSV Eindhoven rekindle glory days of Romário and Ronaldo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/03/psv-eindhoven-rekindle-glory-days-of-romario-and-ronaldo |access-date=4 July 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=3 June 2015 |archive-date=4 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704212822/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/03/psv-eindhoven-rekindle-glory-days-of-romario-and-ronaldo |url-status=live }}</ref> His dribbles from midfield caught the attention of many in the sport, with future Barcelona teammate [[Luis Enrique (footballer)|Luis Enrique]] stating, "I'd seen him on television at PSV and thought ‘wow'. Then he came to Barcelona. He's the most spectacular player I've ever seen. He did things I'd never seen before. We're now used to seeing [[Lionel Messi|Messi]] dribble past six players, but not then. Ronaldo was a beast."<ref>{{cite news |title=The big interview: Luis Enrique – "I'd like to manage in England at some point – the fans are faithful" |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/luis-enrique-one-one-id-manage-england-some-point-fans-are-faithful?page=0%2C1 |access-date=10 September 2018 |work=FourFourTwo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215909/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/luis-enrique-one-one-id-manage-england-some-point-fans-are-faithful?page=0%2C1 |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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. Everything that would come to define him – the lightning pace, the blurry [[Step over|stepover]]s, the implausible impression that he was faster with the ball than without it, even the exceptional upper-body strength – was all there."<ref name="Miller"/> Rob Smyth added, "In many ways Ronaldo was the first [[PlayStation]] footballer. His stepover was a form of hypnosis, and his signature trick, the [[elastico]], could certainly have come from a computer screen."<ref name="Smyth"/> Ronaldo's second season was marred by a knee injury which kept him out of most of the campaign, but he still averaged nearly a goal a game, scoring 19 goals in 21 appearances,<ref name="Miller"/> including a [[List of UEFA Europa League hat-tricks|UEFA Cup four-goal haul]] against Finnish side [[Myllykosken Pallo −47|MyPa]].<ref name="TFT"/> With PSV, Ronaldo won the [[Dutch Cup]] in 1996 and he was [[Eredivisie]] top scorer in 1995.<ref name="PSV topscorer">[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-given-route-back-by-corinthians-1059277.html?action=gallery&ino=4 "Ronaldo given route back by Corinthians"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211190302/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-given-route-back-by-corinthians-1059277.html?action=gallery&ino=4 |date=11 December 2018 }}. The Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2013</ref> In his two seasons at the club he scored 54 goals in 58 games.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Tom |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/85217.html |title=Ronaldo's record-breaking season |date=14 April 2011 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=ESPN |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201001/http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/85217.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo occasionally names [[Luc Nilis]] as one of the best strike partners he had played with, despite sharing only a brief time with him at PSV.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sabatina da Folha com Ronaldo - Íntegra |url=http://esporte.uol.com.br/ultimas/multi/2009/05/15/04023762DC812346.jhtm?sabatina-da-folha-com-ronaldo--integra-da-entrevista-04023762DC812346}}</ref> ===Barcelona=== [[File:PSG-Barcelone 1997.png|thumb|left|Ronaldo scoring the winning penalty for Barcelona in the [[1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final]] against [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]]] During his spell at PSV, Ronaldo attracted the attention of both [[Inter Milan]] and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. It was Barcelona that was willing to pay the then-world record fee of $19.5 million, and he joined the club on 17 July 1996.<ref name="ESPN"/> According to manager [[Bobby Robson]], he signed an eight-year contract, and would play up front alone.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Glenn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-man-with-the-world-at-his-feet-1365417.html |title=The man with the world at his feet |date=27 September 1996 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=the Independent |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204003/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-man-with-the-world-at-his-feet-1365417.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[1996–97 La Liga|1996–97 season]], Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games in all competitions, with his goal celebration invariably the same with his arms outstretched like the statue of ''[[Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ the Redeemer]]'' that watches over his native Rio de Janeiro.<ref name="ESPN"/> He helped Barcelona to the [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] title, capping the season with the winning goal in [[1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final|the final]], and to a win in the [[1996 Supercopa de España]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/ECWC/AllTimeStatistics/season=1996/Round=158/match=53916/index.html |title=Barcelona 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain |work=[[UEFA]] |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040430140323/http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/ECWC/AllTimeStatistics/season%3D1996/Round%3D158/match%3D53916/index.html |archive-date=30 April 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also won [[La Liga]] [[Pichichi Trophy|top scorer]] award in 1997 with 34 goals in 37 games, and the [[European Golden Shoe]].<ref name="RSSSF2"/> Until the [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09 season]], Ronaldo remained the last player to score more than 30 goals in La Liga.<ref name="RSSSF2">[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spantops.html "Spain - List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929-2011"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084634/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spantops.html |date= 4 March 2016 }}. RSSSF. Retrieved 13 May 2014</ref> Ronaldo was at his physical peak at Barcelona, and many of his 47 goals involved him rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net.<ref name="ESPN" /> By January 1997, at 20 years old, he was touted to be the next "great" in football, being viewed as the heir to [[Pelé]], [[Diego Maradona]], [[Johan Cruyff]]<ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=20 June 1997 |title=Ronaldo, the Pirelli Pele |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-06-20-ronaldo-the-pirelli-pele/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031120150/https://mg.co.za/article/1997-06-20-ronaldo-the-pirelli-pele/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Marco van Basten]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Clarey |first=Christopher |date=5 January 1997 |title=A Brazilian Makes It Big in Barcelona |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/sports/a-brazilian-makes-it-big-in-barcelona.html |access-date=31 October 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624232643/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/sports/a-brazilian-makes-it-big-in-barcelona.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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".<ref name="NYT">{{cite web |last=Clarey |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Clarey |date=5 January 1997 |title=A Brazilian Makes It Big in Barcelona |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/sports/a-brazilian-makes-it-big-in-barcelona.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624232643/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/sports/a-brazilian-makes-it-big-in-barcelona.html |archive-date=24 June 2021 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> [[World Soccer (magazine)|''World Soccer'']] featured Ronaldo on its cover in the same year under the headline 'The Best Ever?'.<ref name=":0" /> [[Óscar García (footballer, born 1973)|Óscar García]], Ronaldo's teammate that season, stated, "Back then, he was all fibre and muscle. He was a perfect physical specimen. Such incredible power matched to his technical skills could make him unstoppable."<ref name="BR">{{cite news |title=El Fenómeno |work=Bleacher Report Media Lab |date=16 January 2017 |url=http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/remembering-ronaldo-at-barcelona/ |access-date=27 March 2017 |last=Hunter |first=Graham |archive-date=30 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130024659/http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/remembering-ronaldo-at-barcelona/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[José 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. Ronaldo is the best my eyes have seen",<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPfLKGUI2uo "Mourinho interview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819034239/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPfLKGUI2uo&app=desktop |date=19 August 2020 }}. YouTube. 4:25 to 5:00. Retrieved 30 August 2018</ref> and in 2014 regarded him as the best player post-Diego Maradona.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dawson |first=Alan |date=9 July 2014 |title=Jose Mourinho: Brazil's Ronaldo is the best player from last 20 years |url=http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2014/07/09/jose-mourinho-brazils-ronaldo-is-the-best-player-from-last-20-ye/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |agency=[[HITC]] |archive-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142304/http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2014/07/09/jose-mourinho-brazils-ronaldo-is-the-best-player-from-last-20-ye/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Arguably, Ronaldo's most memorable Barcelona goal was scored at [[SD Compostela|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.<ref name="ESPN"/> The camera then cut to manager Robson who had got up off the bench and clasped his head in disbelief at what he had seen.<ref name="ESPN"/> The footage of the goal was later used in a [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] advert with a voiceover asking: "Imagine you asked God to be the best player in the world, and he listened to you",<ref name="ESPN"/> and the goal was said to have been replayed 160 times on the main Spanish television channels in the 48 hours following the game.<ref name="NYT"/> Half-way through the season, Barcelona agreed in principle to extend his contract to 2006, doubling his salary in the process.<ref name="NYT"/> A hat-trick against [[Valencia CF|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. Sid Lowe of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' stated: "That season Ronaldo was unstoppable. He was slim and powerful, skillful, fast and deadly. He was ridiculously good."<ref name="Lowe SI">{{cite magazine |last=Lowe |first=Sid |title=Brazilian Ronaldo was simply a phenomenon |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/02/18/ronaldo-retirement |access-date=4 July 2018 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=18 February 2011 |archive-date=5 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705003348/https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/02/18/ronaldo-retirement |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of 1996, aged 20, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win [[FIFA World Player of the Year]].<ref name="ESPN"/> ===Inter Milan=== ====1997–1999: World record transfer and Ballon d'Or win==== [[File:Ronaldo Cannes (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Ronaldo at the [[1999 Cannes Film Festival]]]] Ronaldo's time at Barcelona lasted one season, as there were problems with the renegotiation of his contract.<ref name="ESPN"/> Barcelona thought there was an agreement in place, with Barcelona president [[Josep Lluís Núñez]] saying "He's ours for life", but when the parties reconvened the following day, the agreement collapsed, with Núñez admitting: "It's all over, Ronaldo is going".<ref name="ESPN"/> 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."<ref>{{cite news |title=How good was Ronaldo Nazario? |url=http://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/06/09/593a842e468aeb66648b460e.html |access-date=29 August 2018 |work=Marca |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829212038/http://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/06/09/593a842e468aeb66648b460e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Paying the buy out clause fee in his contract, [[Inter Milan]] signed him in the summer of 1997 for [[World football transfer record|a then world record fee of $27 million]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo says exits from Barcelona are often ugly for Brazilians |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3328280/ronaldo-says-exits-from-barcelona-are-often-ugly-for-brazilians?device=featurephone |access-date=19 June 2021 |agency=ESPN |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203944/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3328280/ronaldo-says-exits-from-barcelona-are-often-ugly-for-brazilians?device=featurephone |url-status=live }}</ref> making him the second player, after [[Diego Maradona]], to break the world transfer record twice.<ref name="Smyth"/><ref name="ESPN"/> He signed a five-year contract with the Italians,<ref name="InterTransfer">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-signs-up-for-inter-1257195.html |title=Ronaldo signs up for Inter |date=20 June 1997 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=The Independent |archive-date=25 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125130230/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-signs-up-for-inter-1257195.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was unveiled to 4,000 Inter fans at their training ground.<ref name="FFT">{{cite web |last=Barker |first=Matt |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ronaldo-inter-milan-brazilian-italy-serie-a-europa-league-lazio-juventus-uefa-cup-final-injury-knee |title=Ronaldo at Inter Milan: The UEFA Cup, the goals and the injuries – the full story of his time in Italy |date=17 August 2020 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=FourFourTwo |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203424/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ronaldo-inter-milan-brazilian-italy-serie-a-europa-league-lazio-juventus-uefa-cup-final-injury-knee |url-status=live }}</ref> His debut came on 27 July during the pre-season fixture against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref name="FFT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-all-the-rage-at-inter-1252941.html |title=Ronaldo all the rage at Inter |date=27 July 1997 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=The Independent |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214139/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ronaldo-all-the-rage-at-inter-1252941.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His competitive debut came on the opening day of the [[1997–98 Serie A|1997–98 season]] against [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]].<ref name="GentUltra">{{cite web |last=Gates |first=Emmet |url=https://gentlemanultra.com/2017/03/30/goal-o-the-times-alvaro-recoba-vs-brescia-1997/ |title=Goal O' The Times: Alvaro Recoba vs. Brescia (1997) |date=30 March 2017 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=Gentleman Ultra |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805120432/https://gentlemanultra.com/2017/03/30/goal-o-the-times-alvaro-recoba-vs-brescia-1997/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo adapted to the Italian style of the game in his first season, finishing with 25 Serie A goals, and was named [[Serie A Footballer of the Year]].<ref name="SerieA"/> Ronaldo started to develop into a complete forward. He began racking up assists, became first-choice penalty taker, taking and scoring freekicks. Halfway through his first season he won [[1997 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year]] for the second time, and collected the [[Ballon d'Or]].<ref name="Inter">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9396646.stm "Brazil legend Ronaldo retires from football"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819034235/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9396646.stm |date=19 August 2020 }} BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2013</ref> During his time with Inter, he scored several goals against city rivals [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] in the [[Derby della Madonnina]]. Ronaldo and prolific Fiorentina striker [[Gabriel Batistuta]] were the two best strikers in Serie A, with their duels the most anticipated in Italy.<ref>{{cite news |title=European Football: Ronaldo's duel with Batistuta |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/european-football-ronaldos-duel-with-batistuta-1240337.html |access-date=15 August 2018 |newspaper=The Independent |archive-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815171134/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/european-football-ronaldos-duel-with-batistuta-1240337.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo's [[goal celebration]]s often saw his Inter teammates congratulating him by kneeling down and pretending to shine his shoe.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Collie |first1=Ashley Jude |title=World of Soccer: A Complete Guide to the World's Most Popular Sport |date=2003 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |page=9}}</ref> Ronaldo scored a trademark goal against [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] in the [[1998 UEFA Cup Final]]. Running through defence to go one on one with Lazio goalkeeper [[Luca Marchegiani]], Ronaldo [[Dummy (football)#Association football|feinted]] to go right then left, without touching the ball, leaving Marchegiani on his backside, before going right and slotting the ball into the net.<ref name="UEFA 98"/> His Inter teammate [[Youri Djorkaeff]] stated; "Ronaldo was phenomenal. He proved that he was a cut above the rest that season."<ref name="UEFA 98">[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0215-0e8aa76918b7-2ca3c375dfad-1000--djorkaeff-s-uefa-cup-glory-day-at-inter/ "Djorkaeff's UEFA Cup glory day at Inter"] . UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014</ref> After the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], where he was named player of the tournament, Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best striker in the world.<ref name="Smyth"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200418/http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/archive/edition=1999901998/news/ "FIFA World Player Gala 1998"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014</ref> By the end of the 1998–99 season, he was appointed Inter Milan captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1999/05/03/ecco-inter-di-hodgson-roma-caccia.html |title=Ecco l'Inter di Hodgson. Roma a caccia del 4º posto |newspaper=[[La Repubblica]] |date=3 May 1999 |language=it |access-date=26 May 2017 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403010134/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1999/05/03/ecco-inter-di-hodgson-roma-caccia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ====1999–2002: Recurring injury problems==== {{quote box|width=29%|align=left|quote="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. That is not to belittle Ronaldo's achievements in the second half of his career, when he scored eight goals in a single [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] [in [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]] and became the first Ronaldo to receive a standing ovation at [[Old Trafford]] [in [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League knockout stage#Second leg|2003]]], but it is the memory of the early years that puts mist in the eyes of grown men."|source=—Rob Smyth, ''The Guardian''.<ref name="Smyth">{{cite news |last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |title=Ronaldo at 40: Il Fenomeno's legacy as greatest ever No 9, despite dodgy knees |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 September 2016 |access-date=1 April 2017 |archive-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907161434/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker |url-status=live }}</ref>}} After two seasons with Inter, A.C. Milan defender [[Paolo Maldini]] viewed Ronaldo and Diego Maradona as the two best players he ever faced, stating, "Ronaldo during his first two years at Inter was a phenomenon."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Landolina|first1=Salvatore|title=Maradona And Ronaldo Best Ever - Maldini|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2008/10/04/895828/maradona-and-ronaldo-best-ever-maldini|access-date=23 September 2015|work=Goal.com|date=4 October 2008|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923023026/http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2008/10/04/895828/maradona-and-ronaldo-best-ever-maldini|url-status=live}}</ref> Inter had high hopes going into the 1999–2000 season with their attack including Ronaldo and Italian stars [[Roberto Baggio]] and [[Christian Vieri]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Rob|title=He and Ronaldo Give Inter a Dynamic Duo : For Vieri, One More Change of the Jersey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/10/sports/10iht-soccer.2.t_4.html|access-date=23 September 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=10 June 1999|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923023221/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/10/sports/10iht-soccer.2.t_4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, on 21 November, during a Serie A match against [[U.S. Lecce|Lecce]], Ronaldo felt his knee buckle and was forced to limp off the field.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> A medical examination confirmed that the striker had ruptured a tendon in his knee and would require surgery.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=1044&b=true&pn=Lu%C3%ADz_Naz%C3%A1rio_de_Lima |title=Ronaldo (Luíz (Ronaldo) Nazário de Lima) – Milan and Brazil |publisher=Footballdatabase.com |access-date=12 December 2010 |archive-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213115304/https://footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=1044&b=true&pn=Lu%C3%ADz_Naz%C3%A1rio_de_Lima |url-status=live }}</ref> During his first comeback on 12 April 2000, he played only six minutes during the first leg of the [[Coppa Italia]] final against [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] before suffering a complete rupture of the [[Patellar ligament|knee-cap tendons]].<ref name="Knee"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Inter return for Ronaldo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/3013145/Inter-return-for-Ronaldo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/3013145/Inter-return-for-Ronaldo.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=4 September 2018 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ronaldo's physiotherapist Nilton Petrone stated, "his knee-cap actually exploded", and called it "the worst football injury" he's ever seen.<ref name="Explosive">{{cite news |title='Ronaldo's kneecap exploded, it was by his thigh' |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/ronaldos-kneecap-exploded-it-was-his-thigh |access-date=6 August 2020 |work=FourFourTwo |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422081153/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/ronaldos-kneecap-exploded-it-was-his-thigh |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo was forced to miss the entire [[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01 season]] and much of the two seasons either side of it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo fights the flab and dodgy knees |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-fights-the-flab-and-dodgy-knees-1050397.html |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=The Independent |archive-date=7 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207133147/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-fights-the-flab-and-dodgy-knees-1050397.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Since his Inter teammate [[Javier Zanetti]] had replaced him as the team captain during his absence, he eventually inherited the captain's armband in late 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inter.it/it/news/5173|title=Ronaldo e la fascia da capitano: "Giusto che la porti Zanetti" e in serata il sì di Cuper|publisher=Football Club Internazionale Milano|website=Inter.it|language=it|date=3 November 2001|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-date=20 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720074822/https://www.inter.it/it/news/5173|url-status=dead}}</ref> After two operations and rehabilitation, Ronaldo came back for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]], helping Brazil win their fifth World Cup title. Later in 2002, he won the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] award for the third time, and transferred from Inter to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].<ref name="Inter"/> Ronaldo was given his most recognizable nickname, {{lang|pt|Il Fenomeno}}, by the Italian press while playing there.<ref name="Wash post">{{cite news |title=Brazil's Ronaldo Has the World at His Feet |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/soccer/longterm/worldcup98/teams/articles/ronaldo4.htm |last=Shepard |first=Michael T. |date=4 June 1998 |access-date=1 September 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=19 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119024924/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/soccer/longterm/worldcup98/teams/articles/ronaldo4.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Smyth"/> His Inter teammate Djorkaeff stated: "when we were training, we would practically stop to watch him. It was extraordinary."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo makes retirement official |url=http://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6120565/lack-fitness-led-retirement-18-seasons |access-date=1 September 2018 |agency=ESPN |archive-date=2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902012000/http://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6120565/lack-fitness-led-retirement-18-seasons |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to his November 1999 injury, Ronaldo had registered 42 goals in 58 Serie A games, in what was the hardest league to score in with the most advanced defensive strategies and the world's best defenders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Luis Nazario Ronaldo |url=https://www.inter.it/en/archivio_giocatore/G0556 |access-date=2 September 2018 |agency=Inter.it. |archive-date=3 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215217/https://www.inter.it/en/archivio_giocatore/G0556 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Serie A in the '90s: when Italian football ruled the world |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/serie-a-90s-when-baggio-batistuta-and-italian-football-ruled-world?page=0%2C2|access-date=15 August 2018 |work=Four Four Two|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903182945/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/serie-a-90s-when-baggio-batistuta-and-italian-football-ruled-world?page=0%2C2 |archive-date=3 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After five years, he had played 99 games and scored 59 goals for ''Nerazzurri''.<ref name="Inter"/> Ronaldo's performances at the club – especially the first two seasons before injury – saw him named among the four inaugural inductees into the [[Inter Milan Hall of Fame]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ronaldo Nazario da Lima Interview. Inter Hall of Fame 2018 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QR5YSwQ4iek | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/QR5YSwQ4iek| archive-date=28 October 2021|website=YouTube | date=6 April 2018 |publisher=Inter. |access-date=1 September 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inter.it/en/news/61845/hall-of-fame-the-first-editions-4-winners|title=Hall Of Fame: The first edition's 4 winners|website=Inter.it|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622165311/https://www.inter.it/en/news/61845/hall-of-fame-the-first-editions-4-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Real Madrid=== ====2002–2005: Ballon d'Or win and La Liga championship==== [[File:Ronaldo em campo.jpg|thumb|upright|Ronaldo won [[La Liga]] in his first season and received the [[Pichichi Trophy]] in his second.]] Having signed for [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] [[List of most expensive association football transfers|for €46 million]], his jersey sales broke all records on the first day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crocitti |first1=John C. |title=Brazil Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic, Volume 2 |date= 2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO}}</ref> Ronaldo was part of the ''[[Galácticos]]'' era of global stars signed by the club every summer, which included [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[Luís Figo]], [[Roberto Carlos]] and [[David Beckham]].<ref>{{cite web|title = 2001 – present — Real Madrid surpasses the century mark|url = http://www.realmadrid.com/en/about-real-madrid/history/football/2001-2010-the-ninth-with-zidane-beckham-ronaldo-and-figo|publisher = Realmadrid.com|access-date = 12 July 2008|archive-date = 22 November 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191122115453/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/about-real-madrid/history/football/2001-2010-the-ninth-with-zidane-beckham-ronaldo-and-figo|url-status = live}}</ref> He was sidelined through injury until October 2002 which further fuelled fan anticipation.<ref name="Real debut"/> Ronaldo scored twice on his debut against [[Deportivo Alavés|Alavés]], the first 61 seconds after coming on.<ref name="Real debut">{{cite news |title=Ronaldo scores on his first date |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/07/europeanfootball.sport2 |date=7 October 2002 |access-date=29 August 2018 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830005304/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/07/europeanfootball.sport2 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same reception was observed at the final game of the season against [[Athletic Bilbao]], where Ronaldo scored to finish his first season with 23 league goals and seal [[La Liga]] title for 2003.<ref name="FIFA Profile">{{cite news|date=4 April 2012|title=Ronaldo, a phenomenon in every sense|work=[[FIFA]]|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=4/news=ronaldo-phenomenon-every-sense-1611048.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908083212/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=4/news=ronaldo-phenomenon-every-sense-1611048.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2015|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> He also won an [[2002 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]] in 2002 and [[Supercopa de España]] in 2003, scoring in both finals.<ref name="FIFA Profile"/> In the second leg of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final, Ronaldo [[List of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks|scored a hat-trick]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]], knocking the English team out of the competition.<ref name="RonaldoMU">{{cite news |title=Ronaldo ends Man Utd dream |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2965089.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=23 April 2003 |access-date=25 May 2012 |archive-date=14 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414051440/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2965089.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Completing his hat-trick with a swerving strike from 30 yards, Ronaldo was substituted off after 67 minutes, and was given a standing ovation from both sets of fans.<ref name="Lit up"/><ref name="RonaldoMU"/> Reflecting on the ovation given to him from the oppositions' fans, Ronaldo stated that "it remains a very beautiful, very special moment".<ref name="Edworthy"/> Manchester United defender [[Wes Brown]] commented: "He was just unstoppable. A young Ronaldo [before a series of injuries] would have been even more dangerous, but it shows how good a player he was. Whenever he wanted to turn it on he could, on any stage, in any stadium".<ref name="Lit up">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Jamie |last2=Lowe |first2=Sid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/apr/23/a-player-above-millions-the-night-brazilian-ronaldo-lit-up-old-trafford |title='A player above millions of others' – the night Ronaldo lit up Old Trafford |date=23 April 2020 |access-date=19 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201212/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/apr/23/a-player-above-millions-the-night-brazilian-ronaldo-lit-up-old-trafford |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo scored in a 2–1 home win over [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, but injury crucially kept him out of most of the second leg defeat where Real were eliminated.<ref name="Real CNN">{{cite news |title=Ronaldo finally proves consistency |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/15/ronaldo.profile.reut/ |access-date=4 September 2018 |agency=CNN |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904154105/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/15/ronaldo.profile.reut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2003–04 La Liga|2003–04 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 FC|Monaco]], and suffered a league form breakdown.<ref>{{cite news |title=Real Madrid 2–3 Real Zaragoza |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/mar/18/newsstory.sport3 |work=The Guardian |date=18 March 2004 |access-date=25 May 2012 |archive-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103235751/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/mar/18/newsstory.sport3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Monaco 3 - 1 Real Madrid (Agg: 5-5; Monaco go through on away goals) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/07/match.championsleague1 |access-date=4 September 2018 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225723/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/07/match.championsleague1 |url-status=live }}</ref> During that second season at the club, Ronaldo scored [[List of Real Madrid C.F. records and statistics|one of the fastest goals in the club's history]] when he netted after 15 seconds in a league match against [[Atlético Madrid]] at the Bernabéu on 3 December 2003.<ref>{{Cite news| title = Quickfire Ronaldo proves Real hero| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/03/spain.real/| publisher = CNN.com| access-date = 7 December 2008| date = 3 December 2003| archive-date = 14 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181014141858/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/03/spain.real/| url-status = live}}</ref> Three days later he helped to ensure Real's first league victory over Barcelona at the [[Nou Camp]] in 20 years when he scored the second goal in a 2–1 victory over his former club.<ref name="Real CNN" /> 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 CF|Valencia]].<ref name="RSSSF2" /> ====2005–2007: Final two seasons ==== [[File:Ronaldo Real Madrid.jpg|thumb|left|Ronaldo taking a shot for Real Madrid in 2005]] In his final two seasons at Real Madrid, Ronaldo missed a number of games with injuries and weight issues, and with the acquisition of [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]] in 2006, he grew further out of favour with the manager [[Fabio Capello]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Paul|date=14 February 2011|title=Ronaldo: In his pomp, he was a footballing force close to unstoppable|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/feb/14/ronaldo-retires-brazil-real-madrid-internazionale|access-date=19 September 2015|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729012538/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/feb/14/ronaldo-retires-brazil-real-madrid-internazionale|url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news |title=Fabio Capello: Ronaldo was the hardest to coach |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/capello-ronaldo-was-the-hardest-to-coach/9ot6og6lnfpu1r62tqdqhdc53 |access-date=5 September 2018 |work=Goal |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905175957/http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/capello-ronaldo-was-the-hardest-to-coach/9ot6og6lnfpu1r62tqdqhdc53 |url-status=live }}</ref> In four and a half seasons at the club, Ronaldo scored [[List of Real Madrid C.F. players|over a century of goals]], becoming the fifth foreigner at Madrid to achieve the feat after Argentine [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]], Hungarian [[Ferenc Puskás]], Mexican [[Hugo Sánchez]] and Chilean [[Iván Zamorano]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ronaldo set for Corinthians unveiling|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-set-for-corinthians-unveiling-1062426.html?action=gallery&ino=9|newspaper=The Independent|date=14 April 2014|access-date=1 November 2017|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129072924/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-set-for-corinthians-unveiling-1062426.html?action=gallery&ino=9|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the knee injuries before 2002 meant he "was robbed of the explosiveness of his early years" (according to ''[[FourFourTwo]]'') by the time he signed for Real Madrid, Ronaldo was named by ''[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]'' as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in [[History of Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid's history]]".<ref name="Knee">{{cite news |title=Ronaldo's kneecap exploded, it was by his thigh' |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/ronaldos-kneecap-exploded-it-was-his-thigh#qs3UMJykHxD26RFh.99 |work=Four Four Two |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422081153/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/ronaldos-kneecap-exploded-it-was-his-thigh#qs3UMJykHxD26RFh.99 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/04/11/en/football/real_madrid/1365709938.html|title=The best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history|date=12 April 2013|publisher=Marca|access-date=12 April 2013|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523124252/https://www.marca.com/2013/04/11/en/football/real_madrid/1365709938.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While past his 1990s prime, Ronaldo still drew praise from his Madrid colleagues, with Zidane stating: "Without hesitation, Ronaldo is the best player I ever played with or against. He had such an ease with the ball. Every day I trained with him, I saw something different, something new, something beautiful."<ref>[http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/7531/hall-of-fame/2014/11/14/6137441/he-was-impossible-to-stop-what-they-said-about-ronaldo "'He was impossible to stop' - What they said about Ronaldo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175512/http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/7531/hall-of-fame/2014/11/14/6137441/he-was-impossible-to-stop-what-they-said-about-ronaldo |date=29 August 2018 }}. Goal.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018</ref> [[Michael Owen]], who joined Madrid in 2004, acknowledged that he never got the chance to play with Ronaldo in his prime when "he had absolute blistering speed and strength, mesmerizing foot speed, he was just a blur, he'd be that fast", before adding, "even in training, he showed more than enough to convince me that I would have loved to play with him at his peak."<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Owen: "The REAL Ronaldo" |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ApfBCT-jNmw | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/ApfBCT-jNmw| archive-date=28 October 2021|website=YouTube | date=3 August 2011 |publisher=FA TV |access-date=5 July 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Teammates for six months, Van Nistelrooy said: "Ronaldo was the best natural talent I ever played with. His innate ability went beyond anything that I'd ever seen or played alongside."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruud van Nistelrooy. Full Q & A |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N2HhXVNlj68 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/N2HhXVNlj68| archive-date=28 October 2021|website=YouTube |publisher=Oxford Union|date=6 February 2016|access-date=5 September 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ruud van Nistelrooy names Brazil legend Ronaldo as the best player he ever played with |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ruud-van-nistelrooy-names-brazil-10097596 |access-date=5 September 2018 |work=The Mirror |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627144634/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ruud-van-nistelrooy-names-brazil-10097596 |url-status=live }}</ref> === AC Milan === [[File:Jerseys of Ronaldo.jpg|thumb|right|Ronaldo's Inter Milan away jersey (left) and A.C. Milan away jersey (right) in the [[San Siro]] museum. He played for Inter from 1997 to 2002, and A.C. Milan from 2007 to 2008.]] On 18 January 2007, it was reported that Ronaldo agreed terms with [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] for a transfer of €8.05 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=501832.html|title=Ronaldo unveiled by Rossoneri|date=30 January 2007|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=13 December 2007|archive-date=14 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414021452/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=501832.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Departing Real Madrid, having been the club's leading goalscorer for all of his four full seasons, Ronaldo thanked everyone except Capello: "I would like to thank the fans who've supported me all the time and thank all the teammates that I've had here and all the coaches I've had – except one".<ref name="Capello"/> Capello, who dropped him due to weight issues, commented: "I wish him the best of luck in doing what he used to do which is being a great player."<ref name="Capello">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/01/30/italy.ronaldo/|title=Ronaldo completes move to AC Milan|access-date=22 September 2018|agency=CNN|archive-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922135702/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/01/30/italy.ronaldo/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo on verge of Milan move |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/ronaldo-on-verge-of-milan-move-1.1298756 |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=Irish News |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819034243/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/ronaldo-on-verge-of-milan-move-1.1298756 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6271487.stm | work=BBC News | title=Milan complete signing of Ronaldo | date=30 January 2007 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=17 February 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217213314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6271487.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Wearing the number 99 jersey, he made his debut as a substitute on 11 February 2007 in the 2–1 victory over [[A.S. Livorno Calcio|Livorno]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Milan coach delighted by Ronaldo's debut |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2007-02/12/content_806964.htm |access-date=4 September 2018 |work=China Daily |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225737/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2007-02/12/content_806964.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The next game at [[A.C. Siena|Siena]], on 17 February, Ronaldo scored twice and assisted on a third goal in his first start for Milan, as they won 4–3.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo lifts AC Milan to victory |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/ronaldo-lifts-ac-milan-to-victory-1.632137 |access-date=30 August 2018 |agency=CBC Sports |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819034249/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/ronaldo-lifts-ac-milan-to-victory-1.632137 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his first season, Ronaldo scored seven goals in 14 appearances.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> [[File:AC Milan team celebrate.jpg|thumb|left|Ineligible to play having signed for the club mid season, Ronaldo (standing sixth from left) celebrated the [[2007 UEFA Champions League Final|2007 UEFA Champions League]] triumph with his A.C. Milan teammates.]] After his move to Milan, Ronaldo joined the list of the few players to have played for both Inter Milan and AC 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 [[1998–99 Serie A|1998–99 season]] and for AC Milan in the [[2006–07 Serie A|2006–07 season]]), the others being players such as [[Giuseppe Meazza]], [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], [[Enrico Candiani]] and [[Aldo Cevenini]].<ref>{{cite news |title=AC Milan v Barcelona: Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and the legends who played for both clubs |url=https://talksport.com/uncategorized/162770/ac-milan-v-barcelona-ronaldinho-rivaldo-ronaldo-and-legends-who-played-b-191998/ |access-date=4 September 2018 |agency=Talksport |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904084829/https://talksport.com/uncategorized/162770/ac-milan-v-barcelona-ronaldinho-rivaldo-ronaldo-and-legends-who-played-b-191998/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo is also one of the few players to have started for [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], which also boasts a [[Real Madrid#El Clásico|heated rivalry]]. Ronaldo, however, has never transferred directly between rival clubs. Ronaldo only played 300-plus minutes in his second season at Milan due to recurring injury problems and weight issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=AC Milan vs. Inter: 10 Players Who Played for Both Sides |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2044671-ac-milan-vs-inter-10-players-who-played-for-both-sides#slide0 |access-date=30 August 2018 |agency=Bleacher Report |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002505/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2044671-ac-milan-vs-inter-10-players-who-played-for-both-sides#slide0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo's only goals in the [[2007–08 Serie A|2007–08 season]], besides his goal against [[U.S. Lecce|Lecce]] in pre-season, came in a 5–2 victory against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] at the [[San Siro]], where he scored an emotional double.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pato has a debut to remember as Milan end their San Siro duck |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jan/14/europeanfootball.acmilan |access-date=30 August 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830210238/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jan/14/europeanfootball.acmilan |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also the first time Milan's much hyped attacking trio of [[Kaká]], [[Alexandre Pato]] and Ronaldo, known as ''Ka-Pa-Ro'', played together.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=645896.html "Milan in thrall to 'Ka-Pa-Ro' strike force"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707051904/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=645896.html |date=7 July 2017 }}. UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014</ref> Despite tremendous success over the past decade, Ronaldo never won the [[UEFA Champions League]] in his club career.<ref>{{cite news |title=From Ronaldo to Totti, the best players never to win the Champions League |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3136464/from-ronaldo-to-francesco-totti-best-players-never-to-win-the-champions-league |access-date=21 September 2018 |agency=ESPN |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921191151/http://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3136464/from-ronaldo-to-francesco-totti-best-players-never-to-win-the-champions-league |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, ''[[FourFourTwo]]'' named him the best player never to win the competition;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/20-best-players-never-win-champions-league |title=The 20 best players never to win the Champions League. #1 Ronaldo |magazine=FourFourTwo |last1=Lea |first1=Greg |date=28 May 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829000206/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/20-best-players-never-win-champions-league |url-status=live }}</ref> in 2020, [[Sky Sports]] ranked him the second-best player (after [[Diego Maradona]]) never to win the Champions League or European Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11096/11996951/25-1-best-players-never-to-win-champions-league |title=Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The best players never to win Champions League 25-1 |publisher=Sky Sports |last1=Solhekol |first1=Kaveh |last2=Sheth |first2=Dharmesh |date=30 May 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728114012/https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11096/11996951/25-1-best-players-never-to-win-champions-league |url-status=live }}</ref> Ronaldo stated: "I live football with a passion that doesn't give me any peace for not winning the Champions League – it's a trophy everyone would love to win."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0221-0e90c7564eb5-3b70d5ac744b-1000--the-best-not-to-have-won-the-champions-league/ |title=The best not to have won the Champions League |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=11 August 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531110157/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0221-0e90c7564eb5-3b70d5ac744b-1000--the-best-not-to-have-won-the-champions-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, Paul Wilson wrote in ''The Guardian'': "Ronaldo was unlucky in his timing or his choice of club – for there is no doubt that at his very best he would have walked into any club in the world."<ref name="Guardian"/> During the 2006–07 season, though Milan won the [[UEFA Champions League 2006-07|2006–07 title]], Ronaldo was [[cup-tied]] with Madrid and ineligible to take part.<ref>{{cite news |title=4 Great Moments from Ronaldo's AC Milan Career |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2327546-4-great-moments-from-ronaldos-ac-milan-career |access-date=3 September 2018 |agency=Bleacher Report |archive-date=3 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215123/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2327546-4-great-moments-from-ronaldos-ac-milan-career |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo sees specialist about knee |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/09/06/italy.ronaldo/index.html |access-date=3 September 2018 |agency=CNN |archive-date=3 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215130/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/09/06/italy.ronaldo/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 FC|Juventus]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Juventus 3 - 1 Real Madrid (Agg: 4-3) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/14/minutebyminute.sport |work=The Guardian |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806225633/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/14/minutebyminute.sport |url-status=live }}</ref> On 13 February 2008, Ronaldo suffered a severe season-ending knee injury while jumping for a cross in Milan 1–1 draw with Livorno, and was stretchered off and taken to a hospital.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo faces end of road after new injury blow |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/15/newsstory.acmilan |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035302/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/15/newsstory.acmilan |url-status=live }}</ref> The club confirmed after the match that Ronaldo had ruptured the [[Patellar ligament|kneecap ligament]] in his left knee. It marked the third such occurrence of this injury, which he suffered twice to his right knee in 1999 and 2000.<ref name="Fears">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7244079.stm | agency=BBC News | title=Milan fear for Ronaldo's career | date=14 February 2008 | access-date=10 June 2010 | archive-date=20 June 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620061656/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7244079.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Teammate [[Clarence Seedorf]] stated: "My heart stopped beating because it was like watching a repeat of the injury he suffered playing for Inter Milan against Lazio [in 2000]. His reaction was the same."<ref>{{cite news |title=Seedorf fears for Ronaldo career |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7246241.stm |access-date=4 September 2018 |agency=BBC |archive-date=4 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304155959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7246241.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Silvio Berlusconi]] told Italy's [[RAI TV]]: "He fears for his career. I called him last evening and told him to believe in himself. He has enormous physical potential."<ref name="Fears"/> Ronaldo was released by Milan at the end of the season, as his contract expired and was not renewed.<ref name="Corinthians"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo to sign for Corinthians |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7773957.stm |access-date=1 September 2018 |agency=BBC |archive-date=11 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311081120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7773957.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Corinthians=== ====2009–2010: Paulistão and Copa do Brasil==== [[File:LulaeRonaldo (2009).jpg|thumb|Ronaldo during his Corinthians unveiling in 2009, with Brazil president [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva|Lula]] handing him the jersey|alt=|220x220px]] Ronaldo trained with Rio de Janeiro based Brazilian club [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]] during his recovery from knee surgery, and the club's board of directors said that the doors were open for him to join.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo returns to training with Flamengo but remains a free agent |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/3068247/Ronaldo-returns-to-training-with-Flamengo-but-remains-a-free-agent.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/3068247/Ronaldo-returns-to-training-with-Flamengo-but-remains-a-free-agent.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2018 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo sparks fury by ditching Flamengo for Corinthians |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/10/ronaldo-corinthians-injury |access-date=22 September 2018 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=25 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205751/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/10/ronaldo-corinthians-injury |url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 December, however, Ronaldo signed a one-year deal with Flamengo's league rival [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]].<ref name="Flamengo">[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-agrees-to-join-corinthians-1058987.html "Ronaldo agrees to join Corinthians"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211060955/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ronaldo-agrees-to-join-corinthians-1058987.html |date=11 December 2018 }}. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 28 June 2014</ref> The announcement received much publicity in the Brazilian press about his choice of Corinthians over Flamengo, since Ronaldo publicly declared himself a Flamengo fan.<ref name="Corinthians">[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/10/ronaldo-corinthians-injury "Ronaldo sparks fury by ditching Flamengo for Corinthians"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205751/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/10/ronaldo-corinthians-injury |date=25 April 2017 }}. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 21 June 2014</ref> Rio-based sports newspaper ''[[Lance!]]'' called Ronaldo a "phenomenal traitor", and some angry fans burned Ronaldo shirts outside the Flamengo headquarters.<ref name="Flamengo"/> Ronaldo responded that playing for Corinthians was the only option open to him. "I understand perfectly, I'm openly a Flamengo fan. But I was training with Flamengo for four months and didn't receive any offer. Corinthians made an offer that will let me continue my career."<ref name="Flamengo"/> Ronaldo played his first match for Corinthians on 4 March 2009, a [[Copa do Brasil]] match against [[Itumbiara Esporte Clube|Itumbiara]] at [[Estádio JK|Estádio Juscelino Kubitschek]], in which he came as a substitute for [[Jorge Henrique de Souza|Jorge Henrique]].<ref name="itumbiara">{{Cite news| title = Aos 22min do 2º tempo, Ronaldo estréia pelo Corinthians| url = http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copadobrasil/interna/0,,OI3614269-EI1950,00-Aos+min+do+tempo+Ronaldo+estreia+pelo+Corinthians.html| publisher = Terra| date = 4 March 2009| access-date = 4 March 2009| language = pt| archive-date = 13 May 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110513102349/http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/copadobrasil/interna/0,,OI3614269-EI1950,00-Aos+min+do+tempo+Ronaldo+estreia+pelo+Corinthians.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Ronaldo scored his first goal for Corinthians on 8 March 2009 in a [[Campeonato Paulista]] match against [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]].<ref name="firstgoalcorinthians">{{Cite news| title = Com gol de Ronaldo no final, Corinthians arranca empate contra o Palmeiras| url = http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u531293.shtml| publisher = Folha Online| date = 8 March 2009| access-date = 8 March 2009| language = pt| archive-date = 11 March 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090311033957/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u531293.shtml| url-status = live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="King">{{cite news |title=Cuddly comeback king Ronaldo eating balls again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/apr/30/ronaldo-goals-corinthians-brazil |access-date=4 September 2018 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904192208/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/apr/30/ronaldo-goals-corinthians-brazil |url-status=live }}</ref> He scored twice in a 3–1 win against local rivals [[Santos FC|Santos]] in the first leg of the state championship final, with Santos idol [[Pelé]] looking on from the stands. His second goal, a chip over the Santos goalkeeper from 30 yards out, sent the Corinthians fans into hysteria.<ref name="King"/> Ultimately, he helped Corinthians win the Campeonato Paulista with ten goals in 14 games.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/16/content_11383489.htm News.Xinhuanet.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411002645/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/16/content_11383489.htm |date=11 April 2016 }}</ref> Ronaldo scored in Corinthians 4–2 aggregate defeat of [[Sport Club Internacional|Internacional]] in the final of the [[2009 Copa do Brasil]], helping the club win the trophy for the third time (the second of his career), thus earning a spot in the Copa Libertadores 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=2009 Copa Brasil |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/brazcup09.html |access-date=8 September 2018 |agency=Rsssf.com |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714213029/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/brazcup09.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vickery |first1=Tim |title=Can Ronaldo prove us wrong again? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2010/10/can_ronaldo_prove_us_wrong_aga.html |access-date=30 August 2018 |agency=BBC |date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=16 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116044418/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2010/10/can_ronaldo_prove_us_wrong_aga.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following an injury lay off he returned on 20 September in a match against [[Goiás Esporte Clube|Goiás]], and a week later scored for Corinthians in a draw against [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]]. He finished the [[2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]] with 12 goals in 20 matches.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo 2009 / 2010 Brazilian Serie A |url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/20123/ronaldo?season=2009 |access-date=30 August 2018 |agency=ESPN |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002652/http://www.espnfc.com/player/20123/ronaldo?season=2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> ====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>
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