Ronaldo is born in a poor family in Rio de Janeiro under the name Luis Nazario de Lima. From a very young age he loves playing soccer and his childhood hero is Zico. When he is around 12 years old he is playing in the youth club called Tennis Club Valqueire. In this team, he plays "futebol de salço" or small-sided football with a miniature ball. Because of this kind of soccer with this smaller ball, it is said that he rapidly increased his skills.
In the following few years, he takes part in various youth tournaments and starts attracting attention. Ronaldo gets his big break at the age of 17 when he is called up by Brazil's senior national team. He performs well and is selected for his country's World Cup team. Because of his young age, he is kept as a substitute and watching from the bench his team wins the 1994 World Cup.
Because of his more frequent appearances in the international soccer scene, the European club PSV Eindhoven takes him on its team. He becomes the top scorer of the Dutch league and due to his growing popularity in Europe, Ronaldo is bought by the Spanish team FC Barcelona.
At Barcelona, he gets global recognition by scoring numerous spectacular goals. Moving to Italian club Internazionale is the next step in his career. Ronaldo's start in the Calcio is promising, but playing against rough Italian defenders gradually takes its toll. The year 1998 marks a decline in Ronaldo's career. He leads his national team to a World Cup Final, but fails to deliver in the final match. His team settles for silver as a wide range of speculations (from illness to black magic) are made about Ronaldo's indifferent display.
By the end of 1998, Ronaldo is forced to leave the pitch after a knee injury which he picks up with his club. This injury causes him to miss the 2000/2001 season. After his recovery, Real Madrid decides to take him on and he starts his regular scoring again.
He also returns to the Brazilian national team, scoring two goals in the final and winning the World Cup at Korea and Japan in 2002. In Germany 2006, Ronaldo becomes the World Cup's leading scorer of all time after beating Gerhard Miller's record of 14 goals. Unfortunately the team exits in the tournament in the quarterfinals after losing to France 0-1.
As a footballer, practically everything has been said about the Brazilian soccer player, because of his worldwide fame. He is a powerful striker who can run through defenders. Before his injury, he was a player of great speed with the ability of carrying the ball over long distances. This has changed now as he has gained weight and lost his youth. He has become more predictable, but not in any means less dangerous. In one-on-one confrontations, he can beat any defender on Earth. Ronaldo plays with the typical Brazilian flair yet he also has the strength to outmuscle and go around his marker.
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