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In this name, the
family name consists of two words. The family name is "Nazário de Lima", not "Lima".
Ronaldo
Ronaldo with Corinthians in 2009 |
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima |
| Date of birth |
18 September 1976 (1976-09-18) (age 34) |
| Place of birth |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Height |
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Playing position |
Striker |
| Youth career |
| 1986–1989 |
Tennis Club Valqueire |
| 1989–1990 |
Social Ramos Club |
| 1990–1993 |
São Cristóvão |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 1993 |
Cruzeiro |
14 |
(12) |
| 1994–1996 |
PSV |
46 |
(42) |
| 1996–1997 |
Barcelona |
37 |
(34) |
| 1997–2002 |
Inter Milan |
68 |
(49) |
| 2002–2007 |
Real Madrid |
127 |
(83) |
| 2007–2008 |
AC Milan |
20 |
(9) |
| 2009–2011 |
Corinthians |
31 |
(18) |
| Total |
|
343 |
(247) |
| National team |
| 1994–2006 |
Brazil |
97 |
(62) |
|
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
|
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (Portuguese pronunciation: [χoˈnawdu luˈiz naˈzaɾiu dʒi ˈlimɐ]; born 18 September 1976[1]), commonly known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian former footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo was one of the most prolific scorers in the world in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. He won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997 (aged only 21) and again won the award in 2002 (26 years old). Additionally, he is one of only two men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times, along with French footballer Zinedine Zidane.
In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by fellow countryman Pelé. In 2010, he was voted Goal.com's "Player of the Decade" in an online poll, gathering 43.63 percent of all votes[2] and was also included as centre forward in the "Team of the Decade."[3] On 23 February 2010, Ronaldo announced that he will retire after the 2011 season, signing a two-year contract extension with the Corinthians at the same time.[4] He is widely considered by experts and fans as one of the greatest players of all time.[5]
Ronaldo has played for Brazil in 97 international matches, amassing 62 goals. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller's previous record of 14.
Ronaldo retired on 14 February 2011. He cited pain and hypothyroidism as the reason for his premature retirement. [6] He left football with the record of the most goals scored in the history of the FIFA World Cup, including two goals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final.