Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima has decided to call time on his infamous and legendary career. 'El Fenómeno' games which means he averaged around 1.46 goals per game. Considering a world class striker is consider efficient when averaging 1 goal ever 2 games, a strike rate such as Ronaldo possessed is unheard of. He won 2 Ballon D'or awards, 3 FIFA World Player of the Year awards and 2 World Cups. With a talent such as his, it is no secret why his career saw him spend time at Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, 4 of the biggest clubs in the world.
He began his professional career in 1993 at just 16 years old with Brazilian club Cruzeiro where he managed to score and astonishing 44 goals in one season. This prodigious showing earned him a spot on Brazil's World Cup winning team in 1994. While he didn't see any action in United States, just the fact that at 17 he was brought into the team spoke volumes about his talent and future.
After returning from the World Cup in the United States, Ronaldo's European exploits began, signing for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 1994. In his first season, he scored 35 goals in 36 games, which he followed up by netting 19 goals in 21 games the following season.
His displays at PSV put the football world on notice that something special had arrived. It was Spanish club Barcelona that snatched him up in 1996 for a then world record fee. His performances at Barcelona were the stuff of legend; his power, pace, skill and efficiency was nothing short of breathtaking. Notching 47 goals in 49 games in one of the top leagues in the world took Ronaldo from level of prodigious talent to best in the world. In 1996, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest player to win the Ballon D'or and be named FIFA World Player of the Year, a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
Spending only one year at Barcelona, Ronaldo moved to Italian club Inter Milan who paid another world record fee for his signature. In the 1997-98 Season, he scored 34 goals in 47 games, earning his second straight Ballon D'or and FIFA World Player of the Year award. However, his time at Inter Milan will be most remembered for the injuries that began to derail his great career. In November 1999, he severely ruptured a tendon in his right knee. He was out of action for 2 years with the exception of 7 minutes in which he had made his initial comeback for inter Milan only to re-injure the same knee in what is possibly the most memorable and replayed injury in football history. The world watched in agony as the best player in the world went down for a second time. The image of him screaming in pain and crying is something for all who witnessed it will have etched in their memories forever. In retrospect, though he went on to further accomplishments, this was for all intents and purposes the beginning of the end for Ronaldo. He made his full return during the 2001-02 Season where he scored 7 goals in 16 games before heading to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
The 2002 World Cup in many ways can be seen as Ronaldo's crowning achievement. After being out two years, many doubted his ability to reach the extraordinary heights of years past. There was something noticeably different about Ronaldo now; he had put on weight during his time out injured. He clearly did not have the same pace and physically dynamic player he once did, but he showed he was still explosive and a player whose technical ability coupled with goal scoring efficiency was still unmatched. He scored 8 goals in the 2002 World Cup, including 2 in the final, earning him the Golden Boot and leading Brazil to a 5th World Cup victory. It was entirely down to his performance during the World Cup that earned him his third FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo was Back! This was confirmed by his big money signing by Real Madrid where he joined the 'GALACTICOS' movement that saw Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane respectively join Madrid in the 2 season prior. At this time, he made headlines off the pitch as he became a UN Ambassador. In his first season, he scored 30 goals in 44 games, including a memorable Champions League hat-trick against in Old Trafford against Manchester United. Ronaldo spent 5 seasons at Real Madrid scoring 104 goals in 177 games, a strike rate of 1.70 goals per game. His weight gain during this time became a matter of public scrutiny and became apparent that it was having an effect on his level of play.
Despite dwindling performances and obvious weight issues, he was just too important to leave off the Brazil squad that went to the 2006 World Cup. The Brazilians ultimately disappointed but Ronaldo scored 3 goals to take him 1 past German legend Gerd Müller as all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals.
During the January transfer window of the 2006-07 Season, Ronaldo was sold to Italian giants AC Milan. During his 2 season back in Italy he scored 9 goals in 20 games. In February 2008, he had another knee injury, this time he ruptured the kneecap ligament in his left knee. With this latest injury, he was released by AC Milan at the end of that season.
The last stop in his career was a move back to Brazil to play for Corinthians in 2009. He scored 35 goals in 69 games despite now being glaringly overweight for a professional football player. This current season has been marred by continuous niggling injuries and has prompted Ronaldo to say "I can't take it anymore, I wanted to carry on, but I can't ... The time is up".
Today, February 14 2011 marks the end of something truly special. Players like Ronaldo come along once in a lifetime, those who were fortunate enough to see him play must feel privileged to have done so. He was the perfect striker, possessing power, pace, skill and efficiency the like of which had never been seen and have yet to be equalled. There are players who have scored more goals and won more awards, but there is no doubt having watch Ronaldo throughout his career that he IS the best striker of all-time. 'El Fenómeno' Ronaldo was indeed that, a Phenomenon. He is my favorite player and a personal hero. There is only one way to end the legendary tale that is Ronaldo; it can be summed up in one word, GOALLLLL!
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