He served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo in his prime was able to do that better than anyone who has ever played the game. [75] Wearing the number 99 jersey, he made his debut as a substitute on 11 February 2007 in the 2–1 victory over Livorno. [155][156] The all-star Brazilian team was promoted as masters of Joga Bonito, "the beautiful game", which was advertised by Nike before the tournament. His innate ability went beyond anything that I'd ever seen or played alongside. Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey have stat… This victory, for our fifth world title, has crowned my recovery and the work of the whole team. Adrian is not 6, not 5'11", he's more like 5'10" or just under. [146] In the final against Germany in Yokohama, Japan, Ronaldo scored twice in Brazil's 2–0 win and tied Pelé's Brazilian record of 12 career World Cup goals. He was a perfect physical specimen. He was so fast he could score from nothing, and could shoot the ball better than anyone I've seen. [21][22], Ronaldo adapted to the Italian style of the game in his first season, finishing with 25 Serie A goals, and was named Serie A Footballer of the Year. [254][255] In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup, Ronaldo starred as a mentor in Nike's Risk Everything animated commercial with a host of current players in the Nike stable. "[139] In a remarkable comeback from injury that had threatened his career, Ronaldo led Brazil to their record fifth World Cup title, receiving the Golden Boot as top scorer with eight goals. [242] In 2017 Ronaldo was added as an icon to the Ultimate Team in EA Sports' FIFA video game FIFA 18, receiving a 95 rating along with Brazilian compatriot Pelé, Argentine playmaker Diego Maradona, former Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin and former French star Thierry Henry. [7] He played on the streets of Bento Ribeiro, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. [185], Comparing his natural ability to Roger Federer, Paul MacDonald of Goal writes, "there's a joy to be had watching something we know to be extremely difficult executed with considerable ease. [53] Ronaldo was part of the Galácticos era of global stars signed by the club every summer, which included Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham. ", "Ronaldo wins world player award for third time", "Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2003 nominees", "Ronaldo: "I didn't want to leave Real Madrid, "Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima - Goals in International Matches", "Kaka's spectacular run with Milan and Brazil overshadowed by his successors", "Brazil give magic quartet another chance to shine", "At the 2006 World Cup Ronaldo was jeered for being overweight and too slow", "Official FIFA Awards: Zidane wins adidas Golden Ball award", "World Cup Rewind: Ronaldo sets all-time goals world record", "World Cup rewind: Miroslav Klose beats Ronaldo's all-time goals record", "Kaka: I prefer Brazilian Ronaldo over Cristiano", "Ronaldo makes emotional farewell appearance for Brazil against Romania", "Ronaldo laughs off misses in his final match for Brazil", "Neymar surpasses Ronaldo as Brazil's second-highest goalscorer", "Hamburg to host 2011 Match Against Poverty –", "Blic Sport | Ronalda ne napušta osećaj za gol /video/", "Zinedine Zidane And Ronaldo Reunite For Charity Match", "Match Against Poverty: Brazil's Ronaldo stars", "Didier Drogba to join Ronaldo and Zidane in 12th annual Match Against Poverty", "World Cup 2018: Ronaldo and Robbie Williams star in opening ceremony", "Ronaldo, Romario Reinvented Striker's Role, Says Thierry Henry", "Ronaldo e Batistuta. [166] Ronaldo finished with fifteen goals in nineteen World Cup matches, for an average of 0.79 per game. Fitness experts contend that it is not very easy for people to acquire Ronaldo’s body type. Andre Romelle Young is an accomplished American rapper, music producer and entrepreneur famously known by his stage name Dr.... HeightAndWeights is here to provide the most accurate information about you favorite celebs, We try to provide up to date info in all our articles, if you find a mistake in the site please contact us and lets us know so we can check the facts. Ronaldo only played 300-plus minutes in his second season at Milan due to recurring injury problems and weight issues. [35] His Inter teammate Youri Djorkaeff stated; "Ronaldo was phenomenal. Hatchtt. [201] On his precocious talent – a talent which saw him become the youngest FIFA World Player of the Year at age 20, and youngest Ballon d'Or recipient aged 21 – Rob Smyth of The Guardian wrote in 2016, "Ronaldo is easily the best of the past 30 years, possibly ever. "[70][71], On 18 January 2007, it was reported that Ronaldo agreed terms with A.C. Milan for a transfer of €8.05 million. [140] Many publications regarded his personal triumph as "redemption" for what occurred at the previous World Cup. also and share with your friends. [56] He also won an Intercontinental Cup in 2002 and Spanish Super Cup in 2003, scoring in both finals. Pitta stated, "We saw right away that he could be something different than most other players. [116] He was then known as Ronaldinho ("little Ronaldo" in Portuguese), because Ronaldo Rodrigues de Jesus, his older teammate on the tournament, was also called Ronaldo and nicknamed Ronaldão ("big Ronaldo") to further distinguish them. [74] On 26 January, Ronaldo successfully completed his medical tests at the Milanello training complex under the supervision of club doctors, and the transfer was completed on 30 January. He was still a kid. [40] During his first comeback on 12 April 2000, he played only six minutes during the first leg of the Coppa Italia final against Lazio before suffering a complete rupture of the knee-cap tendons. "[152], On 2 June 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick of penalties for Brazil against arch-rivals Argentina in a 2006 World Cup qualifying match. Ronaldo scored twice in the final, and received the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goalscorer. "[135] Despite his sub-par performance in the final due to his seizure hours earlier, Ronaldo was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament for his performances leading up to the final, and finished the tournament as the joint-third highest scorer. Ronaldo starred alongside Romário, dubbed the Ro-Ro attack, in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, helping Brazil win their first ever Confederations Cup title where he finished as the third highest scorer with 4 goals, scoring a hat-trick over Australia in the final. [243] It was controversial with the Catholic Church. [175][176][177] In December 2012, Ronaldo and Zidane reunited for the Match Against Poverty in Porto Alegre, Portugal, with the field littered with World Cup winners from France and Brazil, which also saw 1982 World Cup star Zico (Ronaldo's boyhood idol) turn out for Ronaldo's team. "Football's Great Heroes and Entertainers". [22] Having received the ball inside his own half, he evaded a cynical tackle of the first opponent with a drag back, before running away from another and ran towards goal where he went past two more defenders in the box with close ball control, and then slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net. But how much do you really know about Cristiano Ronaldo and his journey to success as one of the greatest footballers of all time? [66] Although the knee injuries before 2002 meant he "was robbed of the explosiveness of his early years" by the time he signed for Real Madrid, Ronaldo was named by Marca as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history". [256], This article is about the Brazilian footballer born 1976. "[137] A conspiracy surrounded Nike, the sportswear company who sponsored Ronaldo and the Brazilian national team, with some in Brazil believing the company had forced Ronaldo to play. [62] Three days later he helped to ensure Real's first league victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 20 years when he scored the second goal in a 2–1 victory over his former club. It was extraordinary. Cristiano was named the world’s most expensive player when he transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid at a transfer fee of $ 132 million. Inter Hall of Fame 2018", "Hall Of Fame: The first edition's 4 winners", "2001 – present — Real Madrid surpasses the century mark", "Monaco 3 - 1 Real Madrid (Agg: 5-5; Monaco go through on away goals)", "Fabio Capello: "Inter's Ronaldo Superior To Cristiano Ronaldo, "Ronaldo: In his pomp, he was a footballing force close to unstoppable", "Fabio Capello: Ronaldo was the hardest to coach", "The best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history", "'He was impossible to stop' - What they said about Ronaldo", "Ruud van Nistelrooy names Brazil legend Ronaldo as the best player he ever played with", "Milan coach delighted by Ronaldo's debut", "AC Milan v Barcelona: Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and the legends who played for both clubs", "AC Milan vs. Inter: 10 Players Who Played for Both Sides", "Pato has a debut to remember as Milan end their San Siro duck", "Milan in thrall to 'Ka-Pa-Ro' strike force", "From Ronaldo to Totti, the best players never to win the Champions League", "The 20 best players never to win the Champions League. His individual accolades include being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and winning two Ballon d'Or awards. [229][230] A keen poker player, in April 2013 Ronaldo became a member of PokerStars SportStar, and in 2014 he played a charity poker tournament against tennis star Rafael Nadal. [72] Departing Real Madrid having been the club's leading goalscorer for all of his four full seasons, Ronaldo thanked everyone except Capello, "I would like to thank the fans who've supported me all the time and thank all the teammates that I've had here and all the coaches I've had – except one". [238] Ronaldo made a cameo appearance in each film of the Goal! [58], In a 2005 interview with Folha de S.Paulo, Ronaldo revealed that, somewhat unexpectedly, he identified racially as white,[212] generating a wider conversation about the complex role of race in Brazil. [204], In September 2018, Ronaldo became the majority owner of La Liga club Real Valladolid after buying a 51% controlling stake in the club for €30 million. [24] Until the 2008–09 season, Ronaldo remained the last player to score more than 30 goals in La Liga. [96] The announcement received much publicity in the Brazilian press about his choice of Corinthians over Flamengo, since Ronaldo publicly declared himself a Flamengo fan. "[201] Displaying an effortlessness in his game, a reliance on his superior innate ability is given as a reason for his application in training often not being as high as his teammates – though his knee issues may also have been a factor – with his Brazil teammate Emerson stating "Ronaldo felt he didn't need to work as hard as us, that he could do in two days what the rest of us would take ten days to do. [211], Despite his fame – a 2003 poll by Nike listed him the world's most famous sportsperson (and third most famous person overall) – Ronaldo is protective of his privacy, including with teammates, stating in an interview with The Telegraph, "each [player] has his own private life, and no one thinks about anyone else's private life. [81], Despite tremendous success over the past decade, Ronaldo never won the UEFA Champions League in his club career. The real Ronaldo is the greatest No.9 in history", "Veltroni intervista Cannavaro: «Scudetto al Napoli. [22] He led the Catalan side to UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph where he capped the season with the winning goal in the cup final, and to Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España wins. [19] During his two seasons at the club he scored 54 goals in 58 games. "[133] However, shortly before kick off, after pleading that he felt fine and requested to play, Ronaldo was reinstated by Brazil coach Mário Zagallo. United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, one of the fastest goals in the club's history, Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year, BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, Trofeo EFE La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year, IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year, Association of Football Statisticians (AFS) Top-100 Players of All Time, International Federation of Football History & Statistics, List of most expensive association football transfers, List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals, "Após início pobre em Bento Ribeiro, Ronaldo conquista o mundo", "Brazil's Ronaldo Has the World at His Feet", "Ronaldo O Fenomeno: Sao Cristovao's greatest son", "Ronaldo: My history & goals can't be erased", "PSV Eindhoven rekindle glory days of Romário and Ronaldo", "Ronaldo given route back by Corinthians", "The big interview: Luis Enrique – "I'd like to manage in England at some point – the fans are faithful, "Ronaldo at 40: Il Fenomeno's legacy as greatest ever No 9, despite dodgy knees", "Spain - List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929-2011", "Jose Mourinho: Brazil's Ronaldo is the best player from last 20 years", "Ronaldo hat-trick vs Valencia: Barcelona 1996-97 season", "Brazilian Ronaldo was simply a phenomenon", "Italy - Footballer of the Year: List of winners", "Brazil legend Ronaldo retires from football", "European Football: Ronaldo's duel with Batistuta", "Djorkaeff's UEFA Cup glory day at Inter", "Ecco l'Inter di Hodgson. By the time the 1998 World Cup came along his reputation had extended to the point of fully formed marvel. [32] Ronaldo's performances at the club – especially the first two seasons before injury – saw him named among the four inaugural inductees into the Inter Milan Hall of Fame in 2018. He invites everybody. And, his hair was black actually when he was young, look at his photos when he was 12, 13… and now its brown…, his hair just looks black now cuz its wet, but its dark brown. He was born and raised in a humble family but kept his football ambition burning all through. But he also turned the game so that it will always look just a little bit like him. "[126], Ronaldo scored four goals and made three assists en route to the final,[127][128] scoring once and assisting Bebeto's goal in a 3–0 win against Morocco in the team's second group stage match,[129] netting twice in a 4–1 win against Chile in the round of 16, set–up two goals in Brazil's 3–2 victory over Denmark in the quarter-finals,[127][130] and scored once in the 1–1 draw against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, also netting Brazil's first penalty in the 4–2 shoot–out victory. His dark brown hair and light brown eye color are some of the features that define his attractive nature. "[248] [245][246], —Joaquin Hidalgo, director of Nike's Brazilian marketing unit, 1998. This is his story. At age 17, he was the youngest member of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Explore hundreds of insightful Beyonce questions and answers (Q&A). [114] He went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States as a 17-year-old, but did not play, as Brazil went on to win the tournament. He was unmarkable. [104][105] Commenting on his weight issues following this announcement, Brian Homewood of The Guardian states, "Sadly, Ronaldo's celebrity is now more of a draw than his skills on the pitch – Coldplay, Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres and actor Hugh Jackman have all visited São Paulo to get a picture with the roly‑poly star. And usually, he was right". These questions will build your knowledge and your own create quiz will build yours and others people knowledge. Yokohama, Japan. "Ronaldo had a problem called trochlear dysplasia. [34] Ronaldo scored a trademark goal against Lazio in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final. [40], After his move to Milan, Ronaldo joined the list of the few players to have played for both Inter Milan and A.C. Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, and is one of few players to have scored for both rival teams in the Milan derby game (for Inter in the 1998–99 season and for A.C. Milan in the 2006–07 season), the others being players such as Giuseppe Meazza, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Enrico Candiani and Aldo Cevenini. His name was derived from US President Ronald Reagan who was his father’s favorite actor. He was a wonderful person. But I know that one day they will be broken. His stepover was a form of hypnosis, and his signature trick, the elastico, could certainly have come from a computer screen. [137], —Ronaldo on his comeback from injury and the 2002 World Cup success. The sporting world readily acknowledges the fact that Cristiano is one of the most hardworking players in modern soccer. [231] On 11 December 2014, Ronaldo became a minority owner of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League. [40] A medical examination confirmed that the striker had ruptured a tendon in his knee and would require surgery. [167] His teammate Kaká reflected, "Ronaldo is the best player I have ever played with. Corinthians made an offer that will let me continue my career. [22], During his spell at PSV, Ronaldo attracted the attention of both Inter Milan and FC Barcelona. According to such voices, Cristiano does more than normal training to achieve and maintain his great abs. The ceremony reportedly cost £700,000 (€896,000). [82] In 2019, FourFourTwo magazine named him the best player never to win the competition;[83] in 2020, Sky Sports ranked him the second–best player (after Diego Maradona) never to win the Champions League or European Cup. Many have tried in vain. He has enormous physical potential. In 2005, Ronaldo became engaged to Brazilian model and MTV VJ Daniela Cicarelli, who became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage; the relationship lasted only three months after their luxurious wedding at the Château de Chantilly. I think of an action but I can't do it the way I want to. Only Pelé, Diego Maradona and George Best can really compare. Height in Feet: 6′ 1″ Height in Centimeters: 185 cm; Weight in Kilograms: 84 kg; Weight in Pounds: 85 pounds; Shoe Size: 9 (US) Chest: 43 inches; Waist: 33 inches; Thighs: 24 inches; Arms/Biceps: 14 inches; Cristiano Ronaldo Interesting Facts: His football idol is Luis Figo. Cristiano lauched his football career at Andorinha, but only stayed for 2 years before he joined C.D Nacional. [32] During his time with Inter, he scored several goals against city rivals A.C. Milan in the Derby della Madonnina. [92] Rio-based sports newspaper Lance! One of the most marketable sportsmen in the world during his playing career, the first Nike Mercurial boots–R9–were commissioned for Ronaldo in 1998. [216] Ronaldo claimed that upon discovering that they were legally male, he offered them $600 to leave. [179], Ronaldo was chosen as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2000 as he had the highest global appeal among sportspeople, and he accepted the role as he saw it as "an obligation" to help with causes around the world. [210] The marriage lasted four years. At that time he was about 18-19 years old. One Twitter user posted a photo from Google claiming that the popular cartoon character is 7'1," which is as tall as some NBA players! In April 2009, the family moved to a new penthouse in São Paulo. When he first started playing for Sporting Lisbon, his official height was listed at 179 cm (5'10.5"). [88], On 13 February 2008, Ronaldo suffered a severe season-ending knee injury while jumping for a cross in Milan 1–1 draw with Livorno, and was stretchered off and taken to a hospital. [15], Ronaldo scored 44 goals in 47 games with Cruzeiro, leading them to their first Copa do Brasil in 1993, and the Minas Gerais State Championship in 1994. Halfway through his first season he won FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time, and collected the Ballon d'Or. [224][225] After the confirmation of his fourth child, Ronaldo stated on 6 December 2010 that he had had a vasectomy, feeling that having four children was enough. [207][208] Although they never married, they began a long-term relationship and lived together in Milan until the beginning of 1999. [147] Ronaldo was the first player to seek out German players to offer his condolences,[141] before he was congratulated by Pelé when receiving his World Cup winners medal. "[21] In one on one situations, Ronaldo often used elaborate moves to trick and beat defenders and goalkeepers; he popularised the use of many football tricks and skills, such as the elastico and the step over. [21] Sid Lowe of Sports Illustrated states, "That season Ronaldo was unstoppable. [14] Ronaldo came to national public attention on 7 November 1993, scoring five goals in the game against Bahia. "[21] Ronaldo's second season was marred by a knee injury which kept him out of most of the campaign, but he still averaged nearly a goal a game, scoring 19 goals in 21 appearances. Ronaldo won the FIFA/Ballon d’Or award in 2008 and 2013. [18] Ronaldo scored 30 league goals in his first season in the Netherlands. Clix is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and his weight is 70 kg. In 2020, Ronaldo was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, a greatest all-time XI published by France Football magazine. Everybody would second that, no matter what club he played for. I set off on that path. [22] During the 1996–97 season, Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games in all competitions, with his goal celebration invariably the same with his arms outstretched like the statue of Christ the Redeemer that watches over his native Rio de Janeiro. Ronaldo | Biography, World Cup, Awards, & Facts | Britannica He's the most spectacular player I've ever seen. [172] After the first half ended, Ronaldo made a farewell speech to the crowd. [13], In 1993, Ronaldo began his football career playing for Cruzeiro. It was Barcelona that was willing to pay the then world record fee of $19.5 million. I called him last evening and told him to believe in himself. "[18] His dribbles from midfield caught the attention of many in the sport, with future Barcelona teammate Luis Enrique stating, "I'd seen him on television at PSV and thought ‘wow'. Cristiano’s six pack body makes him stand out easily as one of the most gifted players in world history. He was impossible to stop. All About Dr. Dre Football is all about passion. Tim Vickery writes, "Without Ronaldo, Brazil were a shambles, fortunate even to get to the tournament. His father died of liver complications due to heavy consumption of alcohol. Antony Young (2007). "[48] Prior to his November 1999 injury Ronaldo had registered 42 goals in 58 Serie A games, in what was the hardest league to score in with the most advanced defensive strategies and the world's best defenders. In retirement from sport, Ronaldo has continued his work as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, a position to which he was appointed in 2000. [153] With 10 goals in 15 games, including a goal against Venezuela in the last game to secure first place, Ronaldo was the South American top scorer in Brazil's qualifying campaign. By the age of 23, Ronaldo had scored over 200 goals for club and country, however after a series of knee injuries and recuperation he was inactive for almost three years. [170], Ronaldo played for 15 minutes in a match that ended with a Brazilian victory with a goal from Fred. [23] He also won La Liga top scorer award in 1997 with 34 goals in 37 games, and the European Golden Shoe. I have seen il Fenomeno do things nobody else has ever done. Running through defence to go one on one with Lazio goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani, Ronaldo feinted to go right then left, without touching the ball, leaving Marchegiani on his backside, before going right and slotting the ball into the net. ", "I've said before that my big victory was to play football again, to run again and to score goals again. [78] Ronaldo is also one of the few players to have started for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, which also boasts a heated rivalry. "[7] Recognized as a child prodigy, Jairzinho recommended the then 16-year-old to his former club Cruzeiro. [160] He then broke Müller's record in the Round of 16 match against Ghana by scoring his fifteenth-career World Cup goal. His second goal, a chip over the Santos goalkeeper from 30 yards out, sent the Corinthians fans into hysteria. Every time you see a striker who is expected to hold the ball up, beat players, win headers, shoot from range, drop deep, do everything a striker can possibly do – it might be worth remembering him. [90] Teammate Clarence Seedorf stated, "My heart stopped beating because it was like watching a repeat of the injury he suffered playing for Inter Milan against Lazio [in 2000]. Cristiano Ronaldo Height and Weight: Measurements, Logan Henderson Height and Weight: Measurements, Henry Cavill Height and Weight: Measurements, Serena Williams Height and Weight: Measurements, Kristen Stewart Height and Weight: Measurements, Jennifer Lopez Height and Weight: Measurements. [169] Despite it being almost unheard of in international football for players to be given a farewell match for their national side, Brazilian Football Confederation officials stated that given the stellar career of Ronaldo, it was only fitting that his final game should take place in Brazil while representing his nation. "[29], His Barcelona teammate Óscar García observed, "I'd never seen anyone play football with such technical ability, creativity and precision at that incredible speed. "[199] Asked who was the toughest opponent of his career, 2006 world player of the year Fabio Cannavaro responded, "I have no doubt, Ronaldo, the phenomenon. [248][249] To celebrate 15 years of the boot, Nike created a Mercurial Vapor IX inspired by the 1998 design, with Phil McCartney, VP of Football Footwear for Nike, stating; "Ronaldo's impact on the game 15 years ago was immense, and in the run up to 2014, we wanted to celebrate that boot and the man himself. It's time to go. "[198] Ronaldo was also a strong and powerful player who could shield the ball from the opposition, with former Italian defender Alessandro Nesta (who faced Ronaldo in a high-profile one on one duel in the 1998 UEFA Cup final which was billed as "the best attacker against the best defender in Serie A") stating: "It was the worst experience of my career. [193] Along with Brazilian compatriot Romário and Liberian star George Weah, Ronaldo was seen as a new breed of striker in the 1990s who would also operate outside the penalty area before running with the ball towards goal. [213][214][215] Ronaldo's father, Nelio Nazario, stated, "He knows full well that he's black. He was the fastest thing I've ever seen running with the ball. [47] After two operations and rehabilitation, Ronaldo came back for the 2002 World Cup, helping Brazil win their fifth World Cup title. [96] Ronaldo responded that playing for Corinthians was the only option open to him. He had such an ease with the ball. I know, I lost my battle. Everything that would come to define him – the lightning pace, the blurry stepovers, the implausible impression that he was faster with the ball than without it, even the exceptional upper-body strength – was all there.