Ronaldo
- Born: 22 September 1976
- Birthplace: Bento Ribeiro, Brazil
- Best Known As: FIFA Player of the Year 1996-97
Name at birth: Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima
A brilliant and fluid forward, Ronaldo became one of international soccer's great stars of the 1990s and Brazil's biggest soccer hero since Pele. At age 17 he was a member of Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning squad, though he did not play.Slowed by injuries in the 21st century, Ronaldo nonetheless made a triumphant return by leading Brazil to the World Cup championship in 2002. He won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer (with eight goals) and scored both goals in Brazil's 2-0 final game win over Germany. Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2006 World Cup, giving him a total of 15 in World Cup play, a new record. He transferred from Real Madrid to A.C. Milan in January of 2007; he was injured in early 2008 and his contract was not renewed later that year.
Ronaldo wears jersey number 9... He should not be confused with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star. It's a Brazilian soccer tradition for stars to be known by their first name alone... Ronaldo was named for Dr. Ronaldo Valente, who attended his birth... Ronaldo's 1994 World Cup jersey read "Ronaldinho" to distinguish him from an older teammate with the same name; by the 2002 World Cup he had become the undisputed Ronaldo and was joined by a younger teammate who was called, in turn, Ronaldinho... World Cup 2006 was won by Italy; Brazil crashed out in the quarterfinals... Ronaldo became engaged to model Daniella Cicarelli in July of 2004, but they later broke off the engagement. Ronaldo previously was married to Brazilian soccer player Milene Domingues from 1999-2003, with whom he has a son, Ronald (b. 2000).
