|
A very young Ronaldo (center)
chats with Brazilian striker Tulio (R) and midfielder Sergio Manoel at
their hotel in Israel ahead of a friendly match. Soon thereafter,
Ronaldo signed a $6 million deal with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. (Sven
Nackstrand/Getty Images)
Taste of things to come:
Ronaldo watches from the sideline with great enthusiasm after
Romario (R) scores another goal for Brazil at the 1994 World Cup in the
United States. Ronaldo, only 17 at the time, was the same age as the
great Pele when he lit up the world at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
(John Mabanglo/Getty Images)
Youth served:
Ronaldo in action for PSV Eindhoven against hated rivals Ajax in
January of 1995. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Playing with the big boys:
England legend Stuart Pearce and Ronaldo race for the ball during
the first half of the England vs Brazil final match of the Umbro Cup in
June, 1995. Brazil won the match 3 - 1 to take the cup.
(Gerald Penny/Getty Images)
Being honored:
Ronaldo Lima holds his FIFA Golden Ball award for the Best Soccer
Player of 1996, which he was awarded during the FIFA's annual awarding
ceremony in Lisbon. (Joao Paulo Trindade/Getty Images)
Changing colors:
Ronaldo left Holland for a more high-profiled employer in FC Barcelona.
His transfer made news worldwide. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Inter the dragon:
In 1997, the young Brazilian couldn't resist the temptation of
playing in the Serie A and made a lucrative switch to Inter Milan. (Mike
Hewitt/Getty Images)
San Siro showdown:
Ronaldo experienced firsthand one of the most passionate, fierce
derby matches in all of soccer — AC Milan vs. Inter. The San Siro
stadium was packed to the brim on this occasion (Nov. 22, 1997), the
match ended in a 2-2 draw. (Stringer/Getty Images)
In good company:
Ronaldo is greeted by tennis diva Anna Kournikova during the French
Open in 1998. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Ready for prime time:
Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Morocco in the 1998 World Cup
in France. Now a mature lad in his twenties, Ronaldo would lead the
selecao to the World Cup final. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Just not his day:
The 1998 World Cup final in Paris, France was a day to forget for the
talented Brazilian. Feeling ill ahead of the match and requiring i.v.
fluids, he and his team performed miserably, losing the Jules Rimet
trophy to the French in a 3-0 drubbing. (Patrick Hertzog/Getty Images)
First time around:
Ronaldo at his wedding to Milene Domingues in December of 1999. (Stringer/Getty
Images)
The long road back:
Ronaldo suffered his first serious knee injury in 1999 and had to endure
months of rehabilitation in order to get back to match fitness. His knee
was operated on in Paris, then the Brazilian returned to Brazil for
treatment. (Antonio Scorza/Getty Images)
Just like that:
Ronaldo's injury nightmare took another twist when in the very
first match after his lengthy rehabilitation he injured his knee once
again and required another surgery. Many thought his career was over. (Monteforte/Getty
Images)
Fan fair:
Ronaldo came back from his two knee injuries better than any
doctor could have imagined, and led Brazil on the world's stage in the
2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. Brazil topped Turkey, China and Costa
Rica in the group stages of the tournament and advanced to the final
once again, this time against Germany.
(Pedro Ugarte/Getty Images)
On top of the world:
Ronaldo made as many headlines for his haircut at the 2002 World Cup as
he did for his goal-scoring prowess. His two goals in the final match
against Germany were the difference and provided Brazil its record fifth
World Cup title. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
A Real shocker:
Ronaldo moved once again in 2002 from Inter Milan to Spanish giants
Real Madrid. There was much discussion about Ronaldo's loyalties since
he left the Milan club after his extensive time off with injuries, but
the Brazilian couldn't have been happier. (Christophe Simon/Getty Images)
Simply the best:
Ronaldo and Real Madrid were crowned as the best team in the world
in 2002 after beating Olimpia of Paraguay at the Intercontinental Cup in
Tokyo. Ronaldo won the award for man of the match. (Toshifumi Kitamura/Getty
Images)
Center of attention:
Ronaldo is mobbed by reporters after winning the 2002 FIFA Player of
the Year award. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Stockpile of stars:
The 'Galacticos' of Real Madrid continued putting together the
biggest collection of international stars on the planet alongside
Ronaldo. Huge superstars such as David Beckham, Luis Figo, Zinedine
Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Michael Owen all populate the Real Madrid
roster, but trophies have been hard to come by since 2003.
(Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
A new flame:
Divorced from his first wife Milene Domingues, Ronaldo now spends
his time with Brazilian supermodel Daniella Cicarelli. The two plan to
wed in 2005. (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Hit where it hurts:
In April of 2004, Ronaldo and fiancee Daniella Cicarelli
experienced a personal tragedy when it was announced the future Mrs.
Ronaldo experienced a miscarriage with the couple's baby. In May, the
couple announced their seperation from one another amidst a huge media
blitz in Brazil. (CRISTINA QUICLER/Getty
Images)
World ambassador:
Ronaldo is mobbed by Palestinian supporters as he leaves a center
for disadvantaged youth founded by the UN in May, 2005 in Ramallah,
Israel. Ronaldo, a UN goodwill ambassador, was on a one-day visit to
projects in the West Bank before watching Palestinian and Israeli
youngsters play in a football tournament in his honor near Tel Aviv.
(David Silverman/Staff/Getty Images) |
