Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, known as Ronaldo or "O Fenômeno", is a Brazilian former professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time. A three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and two-time Ballon d'Or winner, he revolutionized the striker position. Currently, he owns and presides over La Liga club Real Valladolid. Ronaldo's influence extends to inspiring a generation of strikers.
On September 1976, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was born in Itaguaí, Brazil, to Nélio Nazário de Lima Snr. and Sônia dos Santos Barata.
In December 2012, 1982 World Cup star Zico turned out for Ronaldo's team in the Match Against Poverty in Porto Alegre.
On May 25, 1993, three months after arriving at Cruzeiro, Ronaldo made his professional debut against Caldense in the Minas Gerais State Championship.
On 5 October 1993, Ronaldo scored his first senior career hat-trick against Chilean side Colo-Colo (6–1) in the first home leg of the Supercopa Libertadores and finished as the tournament's top-scorer with 8 goals, being the youngest to do so.
On 7 November 1993, Ronaldo came to national public attention by scoring five goals in Cruzeiro's 6–0 home win against Bahia in the 1993 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
In 1993, Ronaldo helped Cruzeiro win their first Copa do Brasil.
In 1993, Ronaldo's Brazil teammate Romário having played for PSV from 1988 to 1993 advised Ronaldo to move to the club.
On 28 August 1994, Ronaldo scored ten minutes into his debut for PSV against Vitesse.
At age 17, in 1994, Ronaldo was part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
In 1994, Ronaldo led Cruzeiro to the Minas Gerais State Championship.
In 1994, Ronaldo moved from Cruzeiro to PSV Eindhoven, marking his transition to European football.
In 1995, Ronaldo was the Eredivisie top scorer while playing for PSV.
On 17 July 1996, Ronaldo joined Barcelona after they paid a then-world record fee of $19.5 million.
On 11 October 1996, Ronaldo scored a memorable goal at Compostela, dribbling past multiple defenders. The goal was later used in a Nike advert. Also, At the end of 1996, aged 20, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win FIFA World Player of the Year.
At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ronaldo used the name Ronaldinho because centre-back Ronaldo Guiaro was his teammate. Brazil won the bronze medal.
In 1996, Nike signed Ronaldo to a 10-year contract and a lifetime endorsement deal worth over $180 million.
In 1996, Ronaldo helped Barcelona to a win in the Supercopa de España.
In 1996, Ronaldo starred in the Nike commercial "Good vs Evil", a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheatre, alongside other football players.
In 1996, Ronaldo won the Dutch Cup with PSV.
By January 1997, at 20 years old, Ronaldo was touted to be the next 'great' in football, being viewed as the heir to Pelé, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.
In 1997, Inter Milan broke the world record fee to sign Ronaldo. He also received the Ballon d'Or at 21, and remains the youngest recipient of the award.
In 1997, Ronaldo met Brazilian model and actress Susana Werner on the set of the Brazilian telenovela Malhação, where they acted together in three episodes.
In 1997, Ronaldo won the Copa América and was named player of the tournament.
In 1997, Ronaldo won the Copa América, being named player of the tournament and scoring in the final against Bolivia. He also participated in the friendly Tournoi de France, where Brazil were runners-up. Ronaldo also starred alongside Romário at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, helping Brazil win their first ever title with 4 goals, including a hat-trick against Australia in the final.
In the summer of 1997, Inter Milan signed Ronaldo for a then world record fee of $27 million, making him the second player, after Diego Maradona, to break the world transfer record twice. He signed a five-year contract and was unveiled to 4,000 Inter fans. He debuted on July 27 against Manchester United, and his competitive debut was against Brescia.
At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament, despite suffering a convulsive fit before the final.
In 1998, Ronaldo entered the 1998 FIFA World Cup billed as the world's greatest player. The hopes and dreams of a nation rested on his shoulders.
In 1998, Ronaldo featured in a Nike commercial set in an airport with stars from the Brazil national team.
In 1998, Ronaldo finished his first season with 25 Serie A goals, earning the title of Serie A Footballer of the Year and winning FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time, along with the Ballon d'Or. Following the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he was named player of the tournament, Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best striker in the world.
In 1998, Ronaldo was closely associated with the original Nike Mercurial R9 boot, designed for him for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
In 1998, Ronaldo's goal celebration was used in a Pirelli commercial, replacing Christ on the Christ the Redeemer statue, sparking controversy with the Catholic Church.
In 1998-99 season, Ronaldo played for Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, and is one of few players to have scored for both rival teams in the Milan derby game.
In the 1990s, and by 1998, Ronaldo reached the height of his career. By the time the 1998 World Cup came along his reputation had extended to the point of fully formed marvel.
Ronaldo spoke about his obsession with lifting the World Cup trophy, having missed out in 1998.
In November 1999, prior to an injury, Ronaldo had scored 42 goals in 58 Serie A games. This was in what was considered the hardest league to score in, with the most advanced defensive strategies and the world's best defenders.
In December 1999, Ronaldo married Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues, who was pregnant with their first son at the time.
From late 1999, Ronaldo started getting affected by knee injuries and subsequent weight gain that affected his speed, fitness, and mobility.
In 1999, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, now widely known as Ronaldinho, was called Ronaldinho Gaúcho when he joined the Brazil team.
In 1999, Ronaldo won the Copa América, and was the top goalscorer.
In 1999, Ronaldo won the Copa América, was the top scorer, and scored in the final against Uruguay.
In early 1999, Ronaldo's long-term relationship with Susana Werner, with whom he lived in Milan, came to an end.
In the 1999-2000 season, on November 21, 1999, during a Serie A match against Lecce, Ronaldo felt his knee buckle and was forced to limp off the field. A medical examination confirmed that the striker had ruptured a tendon in his knee and would require surgery.
On April 12, 2000, during his first comeback in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio, Ronaldo played only six minutes before suffering a complete rupture of the knee-cap tendons. His physiotherapist described it as the worst football injury he'd ever seen, stating that "his knee-cap actually exploded".
On April 6, 2000, Ronaldo and Milene Domingues' first son, Ronald, was born in Milan.
Following a serious knee injury in April 2000, Ronaldo was forced to miss games. This absence from the field continued into the following season.
In 2000, Ronaldo became a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2000, Ronaldo exclusively endorsed the video game Ronaldo V-Football, released for PlayStation and Game Boy Color.
In 2000, Ronaldo sustained a knee injury which impacted his pace and brute force, diminishing them compared to his peak in the 1990s.
In 2000, Ronaldo was chosen as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) due to his global appeal. He accepted the role, viewing it as an obligation to help with causes worldwide.
In 2000, a bronze statue of Ronaldo was unveiled next to Ronaldo Field at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
In 2001, Ronaldo made a cameo appearance in Mike Bassett: England Manager.
In late 2001, after his Inter teammate Javier Zanetti replaced him as the team captain during his absence, Ronaldo eventually inherited the captain's armband.
In October 2002, sidelined through injury, Ronaldo scored twice on his debut against Alavés, the first 61 seconds after coming on.
In December 2002, Ronaldo dedicated his third FIFA World Player of the Year award to the medical team that helped him recover from his knee injury.
After a long-term injury, Ronaldo returned in 2002, becoming a great goalscorer, although some considered his 1990s version to be a great everything.
By the time Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in 2002, knee injuries had diminished his explosiveness from his early years. Despite this, Marca recognized him as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history".
Despite not being the same as in the 1990s due to a knee injury, FourFourTwo magazine ranked Ronaldo the best player at the 2002 World Cup.
In 2002, Ronaldo first met Michele Umezu, a Brazilian waitress, in Tokyo.
In 2002, Ronaldo scored eight goals in a single World Cup. This comeback was after knee injuries at Inter Milan.
In 2002, Ronaldo starred in Nike's "Secret Tournament" commercial (branded "Scopion KO") directed by Terry Gilliam, appearing alongside other football players.
In 2002, Ronaldo won the FIFA World Cup, scored twice in the final, and received the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goalscorer. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year and received the Ballon d'Or.
In 2002, after recovering from a severe knee injury, Ronaldo led Brazil to their record fifth World Cup title and won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals.
Ronaldo and Klinsmann's shared record of at least three goals in three separate World Cup finals was broken by German striker Miroslav Klose, who has a record of at least four goals in each of three tournaments at the 2002 finals.
On December 3, 2003, Ronaldo scored one of the fastest goals in Real Madrid's history, netting after 15 seconds in a league match against Atlético Madrid at the Bernabéu. 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.
In 2003, Real Madrid, with Ronaldo, reached the Champions League semi-finals but lost to Juventus.
In 2003, Ronaldo received a standing ovation at Old Trafford. This recognition occurred during the later part of his career, following knee injuries at Inter Milan that affected his explosiveness.
In 2003, Ronaldo scored in the final game of the season against Athletic Bilbao to finish his first season with 23 league goals and seal La Liga title for Real Madrid. He also won an Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and Supercopa de España in 2003, scoring in both finals.
In 2003, a poll by Nike listed Ronaldo as the world's most famous sportsperson and the third most famous person overall.
Ronaldo and Zidane established the Match Against Poverty series in 2003.
In 2004, Michael Owen joined Real Madrid and acknowledged that he never got the chance to play with Ronaldo in his prime. Even in training, Ronaldo demonstrated enough to convince Owen of his exceptional abilities at his peak.
In 2004, Ronaldo was named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players compiled by Pelé.
In April 2005, Alexander was born to Michele Umezu following a brief relationship with Ronaldo.
In 2005, Ronaldo became engaged to Brazilian model Daniella Cicarelli. The relationship ended after three months despite a luxurious wedding.
In 2005, Ronaldo identified as white in an interview, sparking debate about race in Brazil.
At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal, setting a tournament record at the time.
At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo was part of the "magic quartet" alongside Adriano, Ronaldinho, and Kaká. Despite being jeered for being overweight and slow, he remained in the starting lineup.
During the 2006–07 season, though Milan won the 2006–07 title, Ronaldo was cup-tied with Madrid and ineligible to take part.
Half-way through the season, Barcelona agreed in principle to extend Ronaldo's contract to 2006, doubling his salary in the process.
In 2006, with the acquisition of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo grew further out of favour with the Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello due to injuries and weight issues.
Ronaldo and Klinsmann's shared record of at least three goals in three separate World Cup finals was broken by German striker Miroslav Klose, who has a record of at least four goals in each of three tournaments at the 2002 and 2006 finals.
With 10 goals in 15 games, Ronaldo was the South American top scorer in Brazil's qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.
On January 18, 2007, Ronaldo agreed terms with Milan for a transfer of €8.05 million. On January 25, Ronaldo flew from Madrid to Milan for a medical, with statements on the club's website stating Ronaldo was in Milan for a medical. On January 26, Ronaldo successfully completed his medical tests at the Milanello training complex under the supervision of club doctors. On January 30, the transfer was completed.
On February 11, 2007, Ronaldo made his debut for Milan as a substitute in the 2–1 victory over Livorno. On February 17, Ronaldo scored twice and assisted on a third goal in his first start for Milan, as they won 4–3.
In April 2007, Ronaldo appeared in "Marge Gamer", an episode of The Simpsons season 18. His performance was listed as one of the funniest cameos in the history of the show by Simon Crerar of The Times.
During tests with Milan in 2007, Ronaldo discovered he had hypothyroidism, a condition that slows down metabolism and causes weight gain.
In 2007, Ronaldo's only goals in the 2007–08 season, besides his goal against Lecce in pre-season, came in a 5–2 victory against Napoli at the San Siro, where he scored an emotional double.
In February 2008, Ronaldo suffered a severe season-ending knee injury while playing for Milan against Livorno, rupturing the kneecap ligament in his left knee. This marked the third occurrence of such an injury in his career. His teammate Clarence Seedorf likened the injury to the one he suffered playing for Inter Milan against Lazio in 2000.
In April 2008, Ronaldo was involved in a scandal in Rio de Janeiro involving three travesti prostitutes, leading to blackmail attempts.
On December 24, 2008, Ronaldo's first daughter, Maria Sophia, was born in Rio de Janeiro to Maria Beatriz Antony.
Until the 2008–09 season, Ronaldo remained the last player to score more than 30 goals in La Liga, highlighting his impact during the 1996-97 season.
In March 2009, Ronaldo played his first match for Corinthians in a Copa do Brasil match against Itumbiara. Later in March 2009, he scored his first goal for the club in a Campeonato Paulista match against Palmeiras.
In April 2009, Ronaldo and his family moved to a new penthouse in São Paulo.
In 2009, Ronaldo made a cameo appearance in Goal III: Taking on the World.
In 2009, Ronaldo scored in Corinthians' 4–2 aggregate defeat of Internacional in the final of the Copa do Brasil, helping the club win the trophy for the third time and earning a spot in the Copa Libertadores 2010.
In February 2010, Ronaldo signed a contract extension with Corinthians, committing to the club until the end of 2011, after which he planned to retire.
On April 6, 2010, Ronaldo's second daughter, Maria Alice, was born in São Paulo, exactly 10 years after his older brother Ronald.
In December 2010, Ronaldo confirmed paternity of Alexander and had a vasectomy, feeling four children were enough.
Because of Corinthians' Copa do Brasil title in 2009, the club earned a spot in the Copa Libertadores 2010.
Ronaldo and Klinsmann's shared record of at least three goals in three separate World Cup finals was broken by German striker Miroslav Klose, who has a record of at least four goals in each of three tournaments at the 2010 tournament.
In February 2011, after Corinthians were eliminated from the 2011 Copa Libertadores, Ronaldo announced his retirement from football due to pain and hypothyroidism, concluding an 18-year career.
In February 2011, it was announced that Ronaldo would be given a final match for Brazil, a friendly against Romania in São Paulo on 7 June 2011, five years after his last match with the national team.
On December 13, 2011, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane played a charity match with their friends against former and current players of the German team Hamburg in the ninth edition of the Match Against Poverty series.
In 2011, Paul Wilson wrote in The Guardian that Ronaldo was unlucky in his timing or his choice of club, suggesting that at his best, he would have been a valuable addition to any club worldwide.
In 2011, Ronaldo retired from professional football after spells at AC Milan and Corinthians, due to recurring injuries.
In 2011, Steve McManaman spoke about Ronaldo's inclusive and welcoming personality.
In February 2010, Ronaldo planned to retire at the end of 2011, after his contract expired with Corinthians.
In December 2012, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane reunited for the Match Against Poverty in Porto Alegre, Portugal, with the field including World Cup winners and Zico, Ronaldo's childhood idol.
In 2012, Ronaldo and Maria Beatriz Antony divorced.
In April 2013, Ronaldo became a member of PokerStars SportStar, participating in poker tournaments.
In March 2014, Ronaldo played in the UNDP's 11th Match Against Poverty against a Zidane XI in Bern, Switzerland. The proceeds from the match helped recovery efforts in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
On December 11, 2014, Ronaldo became a minority owner of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League.
In 2014 José Mourinho regarded Ronaldo as the best player post-Diego Maradona.
In 2014, Ronaldo donated a signed football to Pope Francis, which is now housed in the Vatican Museums.
In 2014, Ronaldo starred as a mentor in Nike's Risk Everything animated commercial with a host of current players.
In 2014, archive footage of Ronaldo was featured in the music video for "We Are One (Ole Ola)" by Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez, the official song of the 2014 World Cup.
On April 21, 2015, Ronaldo, joined by Didier Drogba in attack, scored a hat-trick in the UNDP's Match Against Poverty in St Etienne, France. The proceeds went towards African countries affected by the Ebola epidemic.
In 2015, Ronaldo opened eight new branches of his youth football school, the Ronaldo Academy, in China, the U.S. and Brazil.
In 2016, Rob Smyth of The Guardian wrote about Ronaldo's precocious talent stating, "Ronaldo is easily the best of the past 30 years, possibly ever."
In 2017, Fabio Capello spoke on Ronaldo's weight issues and lack of fitness at Real Madrid, in addition to his ability, summing up the conflicting emotions he had with the Brazilian.
In 2017, Ronaldo was added as an icon to the Ultimate Team in EA Sports' FIFA 18, receiving a 95 rating. He also appears as the cover athlete on the Icon edition of the game.
In 2017, Ronaldo's son, Ronald, was selected for the junior football team representing Brazil in the Maccabiah Games.
In a 2017 interview with Fox Sports, Ronaldo stated that the best team he played in was the Brazilian one in 2002, emphasizing their collective spirit and lack of vanity.
On June 14, 2018, Ronaldo participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. He walked out with a child wearing a Russia 2018 shirt and returned with the Adidas Telstar 18, the official ball of the World Cup.
In September 2018, Ronaldo became the majority owner of La Liga club Real Valladolid after purchasing a 51% stake for €30 million.
In 2018, Ronaldo's R9 Mercurial boots inspired the Nike Mercurial Superfly VI boots commissioned for Kylian Mbappé.
In 2018, Ronaldo's performances at Inter Milan, especially in the first two seasons before his injury, led to him being named among the four inaugural inductees into the Inter Milan Hall of Fame.
In 2019, FourFourTwo named Ronaldo the best player never to win the UEFA Champions League.
By 2020, Ronaldo expected 100 Ronaldo Academy branches to be opened worldwide.
In 2020, Sky Sports ranked Ronaldo the second-best player (after Diego Maradona) never to win the Champions League or European Cup.
In May 2021, DAZN released the first of a six-part series titled Ronaldo: El Presidente, which documents Ronaldo's role as president of Real Valladolid.
In December 2021, Ronaldo bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro, investing $70 million in the club.
In January 2023, Ronaldo announced his fifth engagement, to model and businesswoman Celina Locks.
As of September 2023, Ronaldo retired from international football as the second-highest goalscorer for his country, behind only Pelé. Neymar has since surpassed Pelé, with Ronaldo the third-highest scorer.
In 2023, Ronaldo, a practicing Catholic, was baptized into the faith.
In April 2024, Ronaldo sold his stake in Cruzeiro.
On April 30, 2024, Ronaldo agreed to sell his ownership stake in Cruzeiro to BPW Sports company, remaining on the club's board of directors.
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