Ronaldo

Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima (b.September 22, 1976), simply known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Brazil and Real Madrid. He has been nicknamed O Fenômeno ("The Phenomenon").

Related Topics:
September 22 - 1976 - Brazilian - Football - Forward - Brazil - Real Madrid

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Ronaldo's footballing abilities were first recognised when he was 14. He was recommended to the Brazil youth team by World Cup winner Jairzinho, who also arranged for his own former club, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, to sign the boy when he was old enough for a professional contract.

Related Topics:
World Cup - Jairzinho - Cruzeiro Esporte Clube

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In 1993, at the age of 16, Ronaldo had already scored 59 goals in 57 matches for Brazil's under-17 squad. By 1994 he had joined the national senior squad, although he did not actually play in the {{Wc|1994}} in the United States.

Related Topics:
1993 - 1994 - United States

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Ronaldo's European career began when he joined PSV Eindhoven for the 1994-1995 season. He became the Dutch top scorer and attracted the attention of Spain's FC Barcelona. He played for Barça in the 1996-1997 season, scoring 34 goals in 37 appearances, then transferred to Inter Milan the following year.

Related Topics:
PSV Eindhoven - 1994 - 1995 - FC Barcelona - 1996 - 1997 - Inter Milan

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Voted the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997 (the only male player to have ever won in two consecutive years), he had a comparatively disappointing performance during the {{Wc|1998}}, scoring only four goals. Brazil lost the final to the hosts France after he suffered a mysterious fit the night before http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/15/ronaldo_hotel/. Some questioned the decision to play Ronaldo in the final because of the possible physiological aftereffects of the fit http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/14/ronaldo_convulsions/. This was the start of a career nightmare for the striker lasting nearly four years.

Related Topics:
FIFA World Player of the Year - 1996 - 1997 - France - Fit

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A year later, he severely injured his right knee and was out of the game for several months. During his first comeback in 2000, he managed to play a few minutes during a league game against Lazio before injuring his knee for a second time.

Related Topics:
2000 - Lazio

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After two operations and twenty months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo managed a comeback during the {{Wc|2002}}. Later in 2002 he was awarded the title of World Player of the Year for the third time, and transferred from Inter Milan to Real Madrid for £27,000,000, after frequent disputes with Inter Milan coach Héctor Cúper. His transfer to Madrid was the subject of a media frenzy not just laced with the usual hype because of his reputation, but more so because he was now the third successive 'Galactico' (or superstar) signed in as many years by the Spanish Giants as part of their famously hubristic policy of signing the world's biggest superstar football players in order to maintain their levels of success whilst broadening their reaches of fame.

Related Topics:
2002 - Real Madrid - Héctor Cúper

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Ronaldo was such a well reputed signing that sales of his shirt on the day of his signing alone broke all known records the world over. And proof of his efferverscent fame lay in the fact that even though Ronaldo was sidelined through initial injury until October 2002, fans constantly chanted his name in the stands, such that when he scored the second of a brace after a Steve McManaman assist on his debut, the player was given an ovation so rapturous many reporters claimed the roof very nearly came crashing. That same reception was observed on the night of the final game of the season against Athletic Bilbao, where Ronaldo scored yet again to seal his first season with 22 league goals (not including the goals in the UEFA Champions League that included a hat-trick in the away at Manchester United), and most importantly, the coveted La Liga Championship title for 2003, where Ronaldo had previously failed to win whilst at FC Barcelona.

Related Topics:
October - 2002 - Steve McManaman - Athletic Bilbao - UEFA Champions League - Manchester United - La Liga - 2003 - FC Barcelona

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On June 2 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick for Brazil against arch-rivals Argentina in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the {{Wc|2006}}. He scored all of Brazil's goals in a 3-1 win from penalties.

Related Topics:
June 2 - 2004 - Hat-trick - Argentina - CONMEBOL qualifier - Penalties

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In April 1999, Ronaldo married Milene Domingues. The marriage lasted four years and ended in divorce. The couple had a son, Ronald (born 2000). In February 2005 he married Brazilian model and MTV VJ Daniella Cicarelli, relationship that lasted only 3 months.

Related Topics:
Milene Domingues - MTV - VJ - Daniella Cicarelli

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