Sachin=GOD Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo has decided to call time on what has been an illustrious and unforgettable career. The 34-year-old, currently playing for Corinthians, has been planning to hang up his boots for some time and is set to officially announce his retirement on Monday. Citing injury and fitness concerns as the main reasons for his decision, he told Fantastico online magazine: "My body aches. In my head I want to continue, but this body can't take much more. "In recent days I have cried like a baby." Ronaldo has been one of the most celebrated footballers in his generation, having won three World Player of the Year awards, two World Cups with Brazil and is the competition's all-time leading goalscorer with 15 goals in four tournament appearances. While he has experience many highs during his career, there were also some low moments too. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan player has been plagued with a number of serious knee injuries throughout his career and was often criticized for being overweight. But the lowest moment for Ronaldo was in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he suffered a convulsive fit the night before the final against France but insisted on playing despite being taken off from the starting line-up 72 minutes before the match by then coach Mario Zagallo. He performed badly as Brazil went on to lose 3-0. Nonetheless, he will be remembered as one of the greatest strikers of all time. He will formally end his career at a press conference at Corinthians headquarters at 12:40pm local time (15:40 CET, 14:40 BST, 09:40 EST.) Ronaldo Factfile 1976: Born Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, September 22 in Bento Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro. 1990: Signs his first professional contract with Brazilian minnows Social Ramos. 1991: Joins Sao Cristovao where he scores 35 goals in 54 games. 1993: Moves to Brazilian top-flight club Cruzeiro and nets 58 goals in 60 games. 1994: March - makes international debut in the 2-1 win over South American rivals Argentina. Part of the Brazil squad that wins World Cup in the United States, although he does not feature. Joins Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for £4million, scoring three goals in the opening two games. 1995: Finishes season as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 30 goals. 1996: Named FIFA World Footballer of the Year. Joins Spanish side Barcelona for £10million after scoring 42 in 43 league games for PSV. 1997: Wins FIFA World Footballer of the Year award again, becoming the only player to win the award in two successive seasons, named European Footballer of the Year by France Football and wins European Cup-Winners Cup in tense final against former club PSV. Joins Italian giants Inter Milan for £19million after scoring 34 goals in 37 league games for Barca. 1998: Scores in Inter's 3-0 win over Lazio in the UEFA Cup final and finishes the season with 34 goals in 47 games. July - Suffers from mysterious illness just hours before Brazil's World Cup final clash against France in Paris. A clearly-shaken Ronaldo plays regardless, as a below-par Brazil side lose 3-0 to the hosts. September - Suffers knee injury which restricts him to only a handful of appearances over the next four years. 2002: June - Scores both goals in the World Cup final as Brazil beat Germany 2-0. Also tournament's top scorer with eight goals. August 31 - Ronaldo signs for Real Madrid, barely an hour before transfer window closes. December 16 - Named winner of European Football of the Year award for the second time. Becomes first player to win FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions. 2003: April 23 - Scores hat-trick in Real's Champions League quarter-final second leg with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Real lose 4-3 on the night but go through to set up a semi-final double-header against Juventus, which they lose. 2004: March - Agrees two-year contract extension with Real. 2006 - Despite being criticised for his conditioning, Ronaldo scores three goals at the World Cup finals in Germany to break Gerd Muller's finals scoring record. Brazil are eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. 2007: January - Joins Serie A giants AC Milan on 18-month contract after falling out of favour with Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello. February - Scores two and sets one up in his first start for Milan, a 4-3 win over Siena. 2008: February - Suffers the third serious knee injury of his career. He goes on to be released when his contract expires in the summer without playing another game. December - Signs for Corinthians. 2009: Helps his new side win the Copa do Brasil and a place in the Copa Libertadores. 2011: February 14 - Announces his retirement from football Link :hatsoff::hatsoff::hatsoff::hatsoff: Quite simply the greatest striker in the last 20 years. Had he not been effected by so many injuries throughout his career it is kind of frightening to think what he might have accomplished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b555 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 he has wont he world cup single handedly for Brazil no one can take that away from him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Sad end to a Legendary Career, could have finished his career playing for Clubs like Madrid, Milan, United, Barca etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketics Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Grew up in India hearing his name in soccer. It's never fun to see such names calling it a day. Great player. As andy mentioned above, he could have definately be good for one of the major clubs. TOP PLAYER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennekoon Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I think it was about time...he's career spiralled out of control quite quick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadoo Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 :hatsoff: What an awesome player, one of the greatest strikers ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tendulkar Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Legend. Best striker of last 20 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooda Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Had he taken better care of himself he would have lasted longer. Though 34 is old, esp so for a striker. His career has not ended in the fanfare it should have. but pretty bitterly for Corinthians. Too much partying and not enough playing. He came back too early from injury at Inter in about 2000... the knee never really recovered. Perhaps his biggest mistake was leaving Barca for Inter after just one season in 97-98 (I think) at the age of 19 when he was mindblowing under Robson and Mourinho... 47 goals in 49 games...How awesome would it have been had he hung around.. Figo and Rivaldo alongside him potentially.... He missed so much of his career through injury- the fact he is still arguably the greatest striker ever despite that is testament to his ability. Dosent have a CL win perhaps a bit surprisingly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hari504504 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 should've stayed off the Oreos.. faded away way too fast for a player of that calibre !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Eye Jedi Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 was a sad day, the greatest striker off all time.my all time favourite player, he was the reason why i became a barcelona fan, 47 goals in 49 matches in that single season was with barca was phenomenal, what a player. looks like messi will beat his record this year he has 45 goals already and still a lot of the seasons left. but if any one had to beat it, i prefer it to be messi. I just hope ronaldo record of 15 goals at the world cut stays intact for a while and one deserving breaks it not klose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sachin=GOD Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 was a sad day, the greatest striker off all time.my all time favourite player, he was the reason why i became a barcelona fan, 47 goals in 49 matches in that single season was with barca was phenomenal, what a player. looks like messi will beat his record this year he has 45 goals already and still a lot of the seasons left. but if any one had to beat it, i prefer it to be messi. I just hope ronaldo record of 15 goals at the world cut stays intact for a while and one deserving breaks it not klose. Klose will most certainly not be there for the next WC so no chance of him doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panther Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 in his early days he was freaking fast and would shrug the biggest defenders of the ball for fun the most powerful striker i have ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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