Ronaldo Nazário

Biography

Ronaldo was "O Fenômeno" - The Phenomenon - and the name was accurate. Before his knees betrayed him, he combined everything you wanted in a striker: electrifying pace, clinical finishing, strength that shrugged off defenders, and skill that embarrassed them. At Barcelona in 1996-97, he scored 47 goals in 49 games. He was 20 years old. Three FIFA World Player of the Year awards came before his 23rd birthday. Then came the knee injuries - three surgeries, two years out, everyone writing him off. The comeback culminated in the 2002 World Cup, where he scored eight goals including both in the final. The pure striker had returned, different but still devastating. What he might have been without the injuries haunts football. What he was still ranks among the greatest ever.

Career Highlights

• 2 FIFA World Cup titles
• 3 FIFA World Player of the Year
• 2 Ballon d'Or awards
• World Cup Golden Boot (2002)
• Came back from 3 knee surgeries

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