Ronaldo

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Full name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
Date of birth: 18 September 1976
Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height: 1.83 metres (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position: Striker

Biography

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Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima was one of the greatest strikers ever. He started his career at Cruzeiro where he scored 12 goals in 14 appearances. He was part of the Brazilian 1994 FIFA World Cup selection that won the tournament, but he didn´t play. After the World Cup Ronaldo went to Holland to play for PSV were he scored 30 goals already in his first season. In 1997 "O Fenômeno" went to Barcelona where he scored 34 goals in 37 appearances, Ronaldo did amazing things during his Barcelona period, dribbling past defenders like they weren´t there and scoring goals at any moment. With four goals already at the tournament Ronaldo was on his way to win the 1998 World Cup with Brazil when an convulsive fit hindered him to win the final. After leaving Barcelona, Ronaldo joined Inter where he would stay until 2002, scoring 49 goals.

At the 2002 World Cup Ronaldo took revenge for the lost final four years earlier by scoring two goals in the final against Germany and winning the tournament. In 2002 Ronaldo joined Madrid and helped them win the 2003 Spanish Championship. He scored a total of 83 goals at Madrid in 127 appearances. At the 2006 World Cup Ronaldo scored his 15th goal at a World Cup and became record holder of scoring goals at a World Cup. Brazil lost the quarter final of France with 1-0 at that tournament.

After playing a short period with AC Milan he ended his career with Corinthians were he would win the Brazilian Cup with. On 7 June 2011 Ronaldo played one last farewell match with Brazil, he played 15 minutes and then left the field after a standing ovation. Ronaldo became three times FIFA World Player of the Year, in 1996, 1997 and 2002. He did incredible things with the ball, dribbling with enormous speed past defenders, scoring whenever he wanted. He remains one the greatest strikers ever.

Career

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Club Record
Years	Team	Apps	Goals
1993-1994	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
Years	Team	Apps	Goals
1994–2011	Brazil	98	62

Honours

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Team Honours
Team	Trophy	Years
Cruzeiro	Brazilian Cup	1993
PSV	Dutch Cup	1996
PSV	Dutch Super Cup	1996
Barcelona	Spanish Cup	1997
Barcelona	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1997
Barcelona	Spanish Super Cup	1996
Inter Milan	UEFA Cup	1998
Real Madrid	Intercontinental Cup	2002
Real Madrid	Spanish Champion	2003, 2007
Real Madrid	Spanish Super Cup	2003
Corinthians	Brazilian Cup	2009
Brazil	World Champion	1994, 2002
Brazil	Copa América	1997, 1999
Brazil	FIFA Confederations Cup	1997

Individual Honours
Trophy	Years
FIFA World Player of the Year	1996, 1997, 2002
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball	1998
Ballon D'or	1997, 2002
FIFA World Cup: All-Time Leading Score