Born 18th September 1976, He currently ply his trade in Brazil with a football club called Corinthians but lets take a journey back to when it all started, He first became a professional football at the age of 17 when he started to play for Cruzeiro in Brazil where he scored 12 goals in 14 appearances. This was an astonishing feet considering that he was initially rejected by his boyhood team(Flamengo). After the 1994 World Cup he choose to move to Europe with PSV being his preferred destination from the advice of Brazilian legend Romario. In his first season there he scored an astonishing 30 goals in the league but his second season was marred by his first of many serious knee injuries, even then he still managed to score nearly a goal per game for PSV and he finished with 12 goals in 13 appearances. It was here that people were starting to take notice of his abilities and the most noticeable of this was Inter Milan and Barcelona but it was the Catalan club who managed to persuade him and after his two seasons with PSV, he followed his manager who at the time was Sir Bobby Robson to Barcelona for a fee of USD17 million. Even though he only had a brief spell with the Catalans, he still managed to win three trophies with the team and also became the youngest ever player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year and in the same season he finish runner up for the European Player of the year award.
In that season alone, he scored a remarkable 47 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions and was the top scorer in the Spanish league with 34 goals in 37 appearances. From that year till the 2009 season, no one has scored more then 30 goals in the league in one season. A magnificent feat for a then 20 year old.
After contract negotiations broke down between Ronaldo and Barcelona, Inter Milan came and snapped him up for a fee of 19 million Pounds. He adjusted to life in Italy really well, this is where he started to develop into the complete forward we all know now by not just scoring goals but assisting in them as well. In his first season with Inter he won his second FIFA World Player of The Year in a row and also sweeping the European Player of the year award. His second season for Inter was marred by another serious knee injury and only managed a couple of games for the club. In his third season, he only managed to play 7 minutes when his knee buckled under him once again and that required surgery and intensive rehabilitation which would put him out for the rest of the season. Considering that the World Cup was close, many people has lost all hope that he would play. But behind the scenes and behind closed doors, he was secretly undergoing an intense fitness regime to get back to full fitness so that he could make the Brazilian squad for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. With hard work, dedication and determination, he did make the squad and not only that, he managed to end the competition as the top scorer with 8 goals and also help Brazil win their 5th World Cup title.
After the 2002 World Cup, Real Madrid who be building a super team went in to sign Ronaldo from Inter Milan for a fee of 38 million Pounds and his jersey sales broke all records on the first day alone. His debut for the team was postponed because he had a minor injury. But when he did he did it with swagger, he scored two goals on his debut for Real Madrid and went on to score 23 goals for the club and he also helped the team win the Spanish League and Champions League titles hence confirming his status in the club's history. His form continue for another two season until injuries and weight issues forced then manager at the club Fabio Capello to show him the door.
He later joined AC Milan for an undisclosed fee. But with more injuries and more weight problems reoccurring, this was the main reason for his fall from grace. He only managed to score a hand full of goals and is behind the pecking order at the club in his two seasons there and there was only but one option for him and that was to leave the club.
A not so glorious end to tremendous football genius that on his hey-day, this guy could score against any team. And he won't just score any goal,he will do it with style. He would beat four defenders with his pace and skill, play a little one two with Zidane and after all that is set and done, all is left to do is just to take the ball around the goal keeper for him to put it in the back of the net. It was just that simple for him but it was so freekin' brilliant for us.
Thank You Ronaldo for the excellent football memories...
WE SALUTE & HONOR YOU.
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