Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)

Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (; born 18 September 1976) is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a striker. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and won two Ballon d’Or awards. Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 matches, scoring 62 goals, and is the third-highest goalscorer for his national team. He won the La Liga title with Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 2002–03 La Liga league title with Inter Milan in 2003. Ronaldo became the majority owner of Real Valladolid in September 2018, after buying 51% of the club’s shares.

About Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer) in brief

Summary Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (; born 18 September 1976) is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a striker. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and won two Ballon d’Or awards. Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 matches, scoring 62 goals, and is the third-highest goalscorer for his national team. He has been named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players compiled in 2004 by Pelé. Ronaldo became the majority owner of Real Valladolid in September 2018, after buying 51% of the club’s shares. In retirement from sport, Ronaldo has continued his work as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, a position to which he was appointed in 2000. He served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo is the son of Nélio Nazáio de Lima and Sônia dos Santos Barata. He dropped out of school to pursue a career in football, playing on the streets of Bento Ribeiro, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. He joined Social Ramos athletic indoor futsal team at the age of 12, and led the city youth league in scoring with a record 166 goals in his first season. Crediting former Brazilian player Jairzinho for developing his skills on the field, he played for the São Cristóvão youth team where he showcased his talents on the pitch. In 1993, Ronaldo began his football career playing for Cruzeiro, before moving to PSV in 1994.

In 1996, he joined Barcelona for a then world record transfer fee, and at 20 years old he was named the 1996 FIFA World player of the year. At 21 he received the 1997 Ballon D’Or, and he remains the youngest recipient of the award. At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo scored his 15th FIFAWorld Cup goal, a FIFA World World Cup record at the time. He also won the 1997 Copa América, where he was player. of the tournament, and the 1999 Copa américa. He had spells at A. C. Milan and Corinthians before retiring in 2011 having suffered further injuries. Ronaldo was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame, Italian Football Hall of. Fame, Inter Milan Hall of Hall. of Fame and Real Madrid Hall of Famer in 2004. He is also a member of the FIFA World 100 list, compiled by Pele, and has been inducted to the Real Madrid and Inter Milan Halls of Fame in 2005 and 2007. He currently lives in Spain with his wife and two children, and works as a business owner and director of a private equity firm. Ronaldo has a daughter and a son, both of whom play for Brazilian club São Cristóvao. He won the La Liga title with Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 2002–03 La Liga league title with Inter Milan in 2003. Ronaldo won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer at the 2002 World Cup with two goals in the final.