In modern football when the name "Ronaldo" is mentioned people think about the £80 million portuguse international Cristiano Ronaldo. However when you say the name Ronaldo to those who have watched football for more than the last ten years then they they tell you about the first Ronaldo, the original Ronaldo, the one and only Ronaldo.Former Brazil striker Ronaldo who scored a record 15 World Cup goals announced his retirement on Monday, ending one of the most successful careers in football. The 34-year-old three-times FIFA World Player of the Year, a twice World Cup winner, said injuries and fitness problems prevented him from playing to his best form.
"I came here to say today that I'm ending my career as a professional player," Ronaldo, with his two sons at his side, told a packed news conference at Corinthians' training complex in Sao Paulo. "Everyone knows about my history of injuries...and those pains made me bring forward the end of my career."
Ronaldo, who had a contract with Corinthians until the end of the year, said his fitness problems were the overriding reason for his decision. He said he discovered while playing for AC Milan in Italy that he was suffering from a thyroid problem.
"Four years ago at Milan I discovered I was suffering from a complaint called hypothyroidism, which slows down your metabolism and to control it I would have to take some hormones that are not permitted in football because of anti-doping," Ronaldo said.
"I wanted to clarify this on the last day of my career," added Ronaldo, who has struggled to keep his weight down and often suffered the jibe of "fatty" during his career.
"It's very hard to leave something that makes you so happy, to which you gave so much, which you love so much and could even continue doing, because mentally I still want to, but one also has to accept some defeats. I lost to my body. "This is the time, I'll do other things in my life, I'll be tied to Corinthians for ever."
During a brilliant career riddled with goals for European clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Ronaldo was voted FIFA world player of the year three times and also won the European footballer of the year award twice.
He won two World Cup winners medals with Brazil. He was an unused squad member when Brazil won the title in 1994 and their top scorer when they won their record fifth in 2002 after he recovered from a serious knee injury that had threatened a premature end to his career.
Ronaldo's career can be looked at in two parts, one before his knee injury and one after his knee injury. The Ronaldo before the knee injury was unbelievable, unstoppable, unique and unrivalled. He was the best striker in the world, he was the best player in the world and hadn't even reached his prime. He went past defenders in a flash, he scored goals for fun and he played with that famous smile on his face enjoying his football.
Then there was the Ronaldo after the knee injury who became the top goalscorer at the 2002 World Cup leading Brazil to become World Champions. Then he move to Real Madrid from Inter Milan and the the Spainish title. Then came the famous match in the Champions League at Old Trafford in 2003 wher Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and left the pitch to a standing ovation.
After that Ronaldo's career went downhill with problems with his weight he started to be called the fat Ronaldo and seemed to have lost interest in the game he loved. During this bad period another Ronaldo was emerging at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal get to the Euro 2004 final and became World and European player of the year in 2008. By this time he was the only Ronaldo people were talking about and Bralian one was a distant memory.
But fooball fans especially those above the age of twenty won't forget Ronaldo. After all how many opposition players at Old Trafford leave to a standing ovation? Hardly any. And who was the last player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford for the opposition? Ronaldo. Eight years later and nobody has matched what Ronaldo did and it will be a very long time when somebody does match the feat of the one and only Ronaldo.
