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| Ronaldo; Credit HERE |
He started his professional career in his home country of Brazil, where he played for Cruzeiro. He made 14 league appearances that season and scored 12 goals. However, when you add in cup competitions and the goals he scored in Campeonato Mineiro 1994, the total came to 44 goals in 44 appearances.
Before joining Cruzeiro, Ronaldo was turned down by the team he supported as a child, Flamengo. Fortunately Jairzinho saw his great potential and gave him his chance. Cruzeiro went on to win their first Copa do Brasil championship.
He was picked for Brazil at the age of 17 in the 1994 World cup, but never played. It was at the World cup where another Brazilian legend, Romario, advised a young Ronaldo to join PSV Eindhoven to kick start his European career. So after just one season at Cruzeiro Ronaldo signed for PSV, where he would carry on his scoring success.
In his first season in Holland he managed a 35 goals in a total of 36 appearances, picking up the Eredivisie top goalscorer award. 18 years-old and running riot, the footballing world was beginning to see the class that everyone would soon see more of in the future.
Unfortunately, his second season in Holland was injury ridden, Ronaldo managed just 21 appearances, however he did score 19 goals. It would be his last season with PSV and he finished his career there by winning the Dutch cup.
The next step up was Barcelona, the Catalan giants, his first spell in Spain was probably his best in his career. The World was about to take note of IL FENOMENO. His first season at the Camp Nou he achieved a goal scoring record that blew everyone away, an incredible 47 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions. Until the 2008-2009 season, Ronaldo remained the last player to score more than 30 goals in a La liga season.
He became the youngest FIFA World player of the year in 1996, and he capped off the season by helping Barcelona to win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. A truly marvelous season. His time at Barcelona was brief, and in the summer he moved to Inter Milan after failing to re-negotiate a contract with Barca.
His success continued, he won the World player of the year for a second time in a row. In Italy he started to develop his game even further, he racked up more assists and started taking and scoring free-kicks and penalties. He was becoming the most well rounded player in football.
In 1999 in a game against Lecce, Ronaldo fell to a serious ruptured tendon. An injury that would plague his career and in his first comeback vs Lazio in the first leg of the cup final, after just seven minutes he was injured again. Two operations and many months of rehabilitation kept him out of the game and was just what he needed to comeback.
In 2002 Ronaldo returned in fantastic fashion and his player of the tournament performance at the World cup in Korea/Japan, helped Brazil to their fifth World crown. He finished top goalscorer of the tournament, including the two goals that won the final against Germany.
It lead to his third World player of the year title and a 39 million euros move to Real Madrid, where he would become a part of a Galaticos team which included Zidane, Figo and Raul. Further injury problems marred his time at Real Madrid, however he still helped los Blancos to two La liga championships, the intercontinental cup and Spanish super cup.
One of his greatest moments in the white of Real Madrid was his Hat-trick vs Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions league. Marked by a standing ovation from all corners of the ground as he was subbed off. A great performance by a great player.
Injuries disrupted the rest of his career, which lead to weight issues that forced him out of favour at Real Madrid. His career took him back to Italy where he played for AC Milan and then back home to Brazil. He finished off his career with Corinthians, and he will be sorely missed.
He finishes with a career total of 352 goals in 515 games and the World cup all-time top goalscorer with 15 goals.
Skill, pace, balance and an eye for goal like no other. He has the ability to take on players like Maradona and the incredible talent of scoring for fun like Pele. People still say Maradona or Pele is the greatest of all time, in my opinion Ronaldo, R9, Il Fenomo, is the greatest of all time!.
Watch this video, which proves my point
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