Biography of Ronaldo (Brazil)

Ronaldo Biography

Real Name : Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
Country : Brazil
Date of Birth : 22 September 1976
Place of Birth : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height : 1.83 m

Status : Engaged (Maria Beatriz Antony)
Children : Ronald (April 6, 2000), Maria Sophia (Dec 24, 2008) and Maria Alice (April 6, 2010)
Hobbies : Enjoys playing golf and tennis, listening to hip hop and samba music

Club : Corinthians
Position : Striker
Jersey No. : 9

A brilliant and fluid forward, Ronaldo was one of international soccer's great stars of the 1990s and Brazil's biggest soccer hero since Pele. At age 17 he was a member of Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning squad, though he did not play. The same year he joined the Dutch professional team PSV Eindhoven. His professional contract was purchased by Barcelona in 1996; the next year he moved again to Italy's F.C. Internazionale Milano, remaining until 2002 when he transferred to Real Madrid. He was named FIFA's World Footballer of the Year in 1996 and 1997, becoming both the youngest player to win the award and the only player to win the award in consecutive years. He also starred in the 1998 World Cup, scoring four goals in leading Brazil to the Cup finals, but he was criticized for their 3-0 loss to France in the championship game. Slowed by injuries in the 21st century, Ronaldo nonetheless made a triumphant return by leading Brazil to the World Cup championship in 2002. He won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer (with eight goals) and scored both goals in Brazil's 2-0 final game win over Germany. That year he was again named FIFA's Player of the Year. Despite accusations that he had become overweight and less than energetic,

Youth career
1986–1989	Tennis Club Valqueire
1989–1990	Social Ramos Club
1990–1993	São Cristóvão
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
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
1994–2011	Brazil	98	(62)
Honours[show]
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2006 World Cup, giving him a total of 15 in World Cup play -- a new record. He transferred from Real Madrid to A.C. Milan in January of 2007; he was injured in early 2008 and his contract was not renewed later that year. He signed with the Brazilian club Corinthians, but was hobbled by bad knees and other injuries. He retired in February 2011, saying "Mentally, I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost [the battle] to my body."

Ronaldo wore jersey number 9... He should not be confused with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star. It's a Brazilian soccer tradition for stars to be known by their first name alone... Ronaldo was named for

Dr. Ronaldo Valente, who attended his birth... Ronaldo's 1994 World Cup jersey read "Ronaldinho" to distinguish him from an older teammate with the same name; by the 2002 World Cup he had become the undisputed Ronaldo and was joined by a younger teammate who was called, in turn, Ronaldinho... World Cup 2006 was won by Italy; Brazil crashed out in the quarterfinals... Ronaldo became engaged to modelDaniella Cicarelli in July of 2004, but they later broke off the engagement. Ronaldo previously was married to Brazilian soccer player Milene Domingues from 1999-2003, with whom he has a son, Ronald (b. 2000).

Career statistics

Club

Season	Club	League	Domestic League		Domestic Regional League		Domestic Cups		Continenta Competitions		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1993	Cruzeiro	Série A	14	12	2	0	-	-	4	8	1	0	21	20
1994			-	-	18	22	-	-	8	2	-	-	26	24
Total			14	12	20	22	-	-	12	10	1	0	47	44
1994–95	PSV	Eredivisie	33	30	-	-	1	2	2	3	-	-	36	35
1995–96			13	12	-	-	3	1	5	6	-	-	21	19
Total			46	42	-	-	4	3	7	9	-	-	57	54
1996–97	Barcelona	La Liga	37	34	-	-	4	6	7	5	1	2	49	47
Total			37	34	-	-	4	6	7	5	1	2	49	47
1997–98	Inter Milan	Serie A	32	25	-	-	4	3	11	6	-	-	47	34
1998–99			19	14	-	-	2	0	6	1	1	0	28	15
1999–00			7	3	-	-	1	0	0	0	-	-	8	3
2000–01			0	0	-	-	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0
2001–02			10	7	-	-	1	0	5	0	-	-	16	7
Total			68	49	-	-	8	3	22	7	1	0	99	59
2002–03	Real Madrid	La Liga	31	23	-	-	1	0	11	6	1	1	44	30
2003–04			32	24	-	-	5	2	9	4	2	1	48	31
2004–05			34	21	-	-	1	0	10	3	-	-	45	24
2005–06			23	14	-	-	2	1	2	0	-	-	27	15
2006–07			7	1	-	-	2	1	4	2	-	-	13	4
Total			127	83	-	-	11	4	36	15	3	2	177	104
2006–07	AC Milan	Serie A	14	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	7
2007–08			6	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	2
Total			20	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	9
2009	Corinthians	Série A	20	12	10	8	8	3	-	-	-	-	38	23
2010			11	6	9	3	-	-	7	3	-	-	27	12
2011			-	-	2	0	-	-	2	0	-	-	4	0
Total			31	18	21	11	8	3	9	3	-	-	69	35
Career totals			343	247	41	33	35	19	93	49	6	4	518	35

Honours

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 1994
• Copa do Brasil: 1993

PSV

• KNVB Cup: 1996
• Johan Cruijff-schaal: 1996

Barcelona

• Copa del Rey: 1997
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1997
• Supercopa de España: 1996

Inter Milan

• UEFA Cup: 1998

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2002–03, 2006–07
• Intercontinental Cup: 2002
• Supercopa de España: 2003

Corinthians

• Campeonato Paulista: 2009
• Copa do Brasil: 2009

National team

• FIFA World Cup: 1994, 2002
• Copa América: 1997, 1999
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997