Ground Reality
Ronaldo
-- is this the end?

By Aqeel Naqvi

February 13th, 2008, European Champions AC Milan were playing Livorno in their domestic league, Serie A, when one of their strikers ruptured a tendon in his right knee and was taken off the playing field and later sent to Paris for surgery. Later on, it was officially declared that the striker was out for a frustrating nine-month period on the sidelines. Even after that his future depended on his recovery from this injury. It would have been a sad end to one of the most illustrious careers in world football.

The footballer has won the World Cup with Brazil twice and has been named World Player of the Year by FIFA for an unprecedented three-time - a feat rivalled only by French Maestro Zinedine Zidane; the player is Ronaldo. For his technical perfection, Ronaldo is famously known as 'El Fenomeno'. He is one of the fiercest strikers in the history of football.

Ronaldo was born in Bento Ribeiro, Brazil on 18 September 1976. Just like every other kid in the neighbourhood Ronaldo started playing football at a very young age for Social Ramos Club and later São Cristóvão. His talent did not go unnoticed and he was soon playing for one of Brazil's big clubs Cruzeiro.

Cruzeiro became Ronaldo's passport to Europe and in 1994, the Dutch side PSV Eindhoven signed the young Brazilian who was beginning to show glimpses of what he could really do. He did not disappoint anyone and started scoring goals at will. Ronaldo scored 55 goals in 57 matches to cement his name as one of the brightest young players.

Spanish giants Barcelona did not waste anytime at all and signed the teenage prodigy from PSV Eindhoven for 19 million Euros in 1996. Ronaldo only played one season at the Nou Camp, but his scintillating displays attracted praise from all over the world, and soon Inter Milan came calling for his signature; Ronaldo finished his stint with the Catalan Club scoring 47 goals in 49 matches.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo made his international debut in 1994 against Argentina; he also featured as a reserve player in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which Brazil won. He was named World Player of the Year in 1996 aged just 20! He won the title again the next year.

San Siro became the next home for the then hottest property in world football, and all eyes were focused on Inter Milan as Ronaldo continued his goal-scoring spree. He was such a potent threat for the opposition. Defending against Ronaldo was a Herculean task; he was strong and could easily shrug off defenders. His acceleration was unbelievable, he could change gears like a modern day Ferrari and once at full speed there was no catching the speedy Brazilian. And that's not all, when it came to dribbling he was a magician and in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, wise men would put money on Ronaldo ten times out of ten. Ronaldo was the star attraction of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where Brazil lost in the final to the host nation.

During the 1999-2000 season, Ronaldo got injured during a Serie A match, and the injury kept him out of football for almost two years. But, he came back stronger than before and instantly took his country to World Cup glory in 2002.

Real Madrid became his next destination as he returned to haunt defenders in Spain, scoring at his trademark rate. He played more brilliantly for 'los Galacticos', a star studded Real Madrid that included players like Zidane, Beckham, Raul, Figo and Ronaldo's Brazilian teammate Roberto Carlos.

Injuries kept on chasing El Fenomeno and Real sold him to Italy's AC Milan, where Ronaldo was welcomed by Kaka and Cafu of Brazil. Unfortunately, Ronaldo couldn't get out of the blocks at AC Milan and his last injury seems to have closed the doors of international football on the barrel-chested marksman. But, his fans are hopeful that Brazil's number 9 won't succumb to the injury and will be back soon.