Three time FIFA World Player of the year Ronaldo Nazario De Lima has decided to end his illustrious career on December 31st 2011. One of the all time greats and a legend by any standards, Ronaldo has decided to end his career in his native Brazil with Corinthians.
Ronaldo’s Resume is a marvel to behold. The 33-year old striker has played in Europe’s top Clubs ever since he was a teen. He started out in PSV Eindhoven where he scored 42 goals in 45 appearances for the club before moving to Barcelona. Ronaldo’s impressive goal scoring rate continued in Barca where he again wooed the crowd when he scored 47 goals in 49 apps in a single season. Its no wonder the Catalans won the European cup winners cup , the Copa del rey and the Spanish Super Cup that same year. He later moved to Italy to join Inter Milan at a time when the Seria A was the dream destination for any footballer.
It was while in Italy that Ronaldo suffered a career threatening injury that almost ended his career. The phenom as he came to be known proved his critics wrong when he Signed for Real Madrid in 2002 after having a great summer with the Selecao where they won their record breaking 5th World cup title in Korea and Japan.
Ronaldo then returned to Italy in 2007 to play for Milan but it was a case of de javu as he again suffered a terrible knee injury that ruled him out for much of the 2007/2008 season. He only featured 20 times for the Rossoneri before quiting and returning to Brazil. In a last gasp bid to revive his career, Ronaldo signed with Corinthians and i have to say he has enjoyed a good spell in Brazil’s Pualista championship.
Photo credit: Juanito- Tupapichuto.
