Ronaldo, through the years

Ronaldo retires…!

The original Ronaldo, the Ronaldo of Brazil, has finally decided to hang his boots. Personally, I regard Ronaldo as the person who made me watch the beautiful game of football for the first time, back in 2002. The hype around Brazil and Ronaldo in particular attracted many eye-balls back in India, including mine and that was my first tryst with football.

Ronaldo had been flirting with the idea of retiring for two years but decided to carry on for another year at the beginning of the 2011 season. But after the shock elimination of his team from the Libertadores Cup and violent protests from fans, that also led to Roberto Carlos leaving the team, the talismanic forward decided to quit football altogether.

Speaking to the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, he said “I can’t take any more. I wanted to continue, but I can’t do it anymore. I think of an action, but I can’t do it the way I want to. It’s time.”

Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of Ronaldo’s illustrious career:

1993-94:

• In the only year he played for Brazilian club Cruzeiro, Ronaldo amassed 12 goals in 14 matches, helping his side to win the Copa do Brasil title.

1994-96:

• PSV scouts recognize his precocious talent and sign him up. The player runs havoc in the Eredivisie, scoring 54 goals in 57 games in all competitions spread over two seasons.
• At the tender age of 17, receives his international call up for the 1994 World Cup. Although he played no role in that campaign except cheering his compatriots from the sidelines as they eventually went on to win the Cup, it proved to be a major learning experience in the youngster’s career.

1996-97:

• Barcelona was Ronaldo’s next destination as the player made a big money move to the Catalan giants. A season with Barcelona saw him score 47 goals in a total of just 49 games.
• Represents Brazil in the Atlanta Olympic, finishing with Bronze medal.
• Wins the coveted FIFA World Player of the Year.
• Runner up for the Ballon D’Or.
• Wins the European Golden Boot.

1997-98:

• Moves to Serie A giants Inter Milan for a then record £19m. Takes a little time to adapt to the Serie A, still manages 34 goals from 47 games.
• Wins the UEFA Cup with Inter.
• Wins the Copa America with Brazil.
• Wins the FIFA Player of the Year.
• Becomes the first Brazilian to win the Ballon D’Or.
• Wins the UEFA Most Valuable and UEFA Best Forward Award.

1998-99:

• First signs of injury as Ronaldo played in just 28 matches for Inter, scoring 15 goals. A mixed performance for someone of Ronaldo’s stature.
• In the 1998 World Cup, helps Brazil reach the finals scoring 4 goals on the way. But on the night before the final against France, suffers a convulsive fit and had to be rushed to a hospital. Insisted on playing the next day. Failed to perform in the match as Brazil loses 0-3 in the final. Post match, many conspiracy theories emerged, some claiming match fixing, others saying that the sponsor Nike forced the management to play Ronaldo.
• Won the Golden Ball award.

1999-2000:

• Starts the season brightly, helping Brazil to win the Copa America.
• Suffers a knee injury while playing for Inter against Lecce. Faces six month out.
• Marries female Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues. The marriage lasts for 4 years.

2000-01:

• Returned from the knee injury in April, but ruptures a knee ligament and lasts for just 6 minutes on the field. Misses the entire season.

2001-02:

• Injury woes continue as he remains sidelined for most of the season. Manages to score 7 goals in 16 games.

WORLD CUP 2002:

• The World Cup of 2002 is probably the main highlight of the Ronaldo’s career. Scores 8 goals including the 2 goals against Germany in the final. Takes his total World Cup goals tally to 12 as Brazil lifted the trophy for a record fifth time.
• Wins the FIFA World Player of the Year.
• Wins the Ballon D’Or.

2002-05:

• A huge money transfer to Real Madrid in the beginning of 2002 season. Becomes an instant fan favorite as the fans continue chanting his name even as he was sidelined till October. Scores goals in big matches including a hat trick against Manchester United in April 2003 that received a standing ovation from everyone inside OT.

WORLD CUP 2006:

The inability to control his weight made him a soft target for the critics who often singled him out for team’s bad performance. Even the Brazilian president couldn’t resist taking a dig at his weight issues. During a video conference with the team on the eve of the 2006 World Cup, after Ronaldo had weighed in at 95 kilos for the training camp, then President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked: “And what about Ronaldo, is he fat or isn’t he?” Lula later apologized for his action.

But the fans continued jeering him for being overweight and slow. Manages to score 4 goals but could do nothing more as Brazil crashed out of the World Cup in the quarterfinal stage.

AC MILAN 2006-08:

• Following Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s arrival at Madrid, Ronaldo’s appearances became few. The player decided to switch to AC Milan in his search for regular football. Failed to impress and managed just 14 and 6 appearances in the two seasons respectively. Frequent injuries prompted the end of his European odyssey.

BACK TO HOMELAND 2008-11:

• An ominous return to homeland as the player is involved in a scandal involving three transvestite prostitutes.
• Made news as despite pledging his allegiance to Brazilian club Flamengo, decides to join arch-rivals Corinthians. Though, not at his best, Ronaldo continued playing football for 2 years with Corinthians and helped them win the Brazil Cup. In 2010, he signed a contract extension that would keep him at the club till the end of 2011. But following the fans protest after Corinthians crashed out of Copa Libertadores, Ronaldo finally decided to retire and thus the world saw the dawn of an era.

The Brazilian era of Rivaldo, Cafu, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos is slowly but surely coming to an end.