Ronaldo - O Fenomeno

When Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima does eventually hang up his boots, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of football’s all-time greats.

The translation of his nickname ‘El Fenomeno’ perfectly describes what he is – ‘The Phenomenon’.

In his prime Ronaldo was the complete forward – brilliant dribbling ability, terrifying pace, intelligence, fantastic finishing, both-footed, excellent in the air – the list goes on.

After being spotted by Brazilian legend Jairzinho, Ronaldo burst onto the scene in 1993 as a 16-year-old for Cruzeiro.

His god-given talent was there for everyone to see and the next year he made his debut for Brazil, and indeed made the squad for their 1994 World Cup triumph in the United States.

Moves to PSV, Barcelona and Inter then followed, as Ronaldo established himself as the best striker in world football.

Indeed the superstar could no wrong until the mysterious events prior to the final of the World Cup in France in 1998.

Brazil were due to face Les Bleus in Paris, however the night before the final Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit and was removed from the starting line-up.

Shortly before kick-off he insisted he was well enough to play and was re-instated but he played a dazed and lethargic game as the Selecao were thumped 3-0.

The events surrounding what really happened to Ronaldo the night before the World Cup final are still shrouded in controversy and it may be many years until we find out the real truth, however it can be argued that Ronaldo has never been the same player since.

He played only 19 games the following season due to a succession of injuries, before he ruptured a tendon in his knee in November 1999 and was out for six months.

Within seven minutes of his comeback in April 2000 he injured his knee again, and it took two operations and 20 months of rehabilitation before he returned in time for the 2002 World Cup.

Despite being out of the game for virtually two-and-a-half years Ronaldo surprised everyone by finishing top-scorer in Korea and Japan, hitting both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 final victory over Germany.

A move to Real Madrid followed, where despite still being hampered by injuries he continued to showcase his brilliance on the pitch.

After falling out with former Coach Fabio Capello, he left to join AC Milan in January of this year.

The striker made a promising start to his Rossoneri career, scoring seven goals in 14 Serie A games up until the end of last season.

Unfortunately his old problem with injuries struck again and in the current campaign, he has made just one appearance, against Cagliari on November 25.

With Ronaldo’s contract expiring next summer, the Italian press has been rife with reports that the striker will not be offered a new deal.

Now at the age of 31, and having suffered almost a decade of persistent injuries, one has to ask the question whether we have seen the end of Ronaldo at the very top.

There can be no doubting the brilliance of the man when he is fit, indeed he still showed glimpses of his genius against Cagliari, even though he had not kicked a ball in six months.

However it seems unlikely that a big club will be prepared to take the risk of offering a huge contract to a player who has such a liability when it comes to injuries.

His latest problem to his calf was sustained merely warming up before a Champions League game against Benfica.

Ronaldo has been linked with a move to America, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, and it seems to me this may be his best career option for next season.

El Fenomeno has between now and June to prove he can play with continuity without getting injured, otherwise I fear, and it saddens me to say it as I am a huge admirer, that we may not see him on the European stage again.

Injury-plagued AC Milan striker Ronaldo said Tuesday he was still hoping to play in the Club World Cup, amid mounting sympathy from teammates over his injury woes.

The 31-year Brazilian joined the team’s training for the first time since the European Champions League winners arrived here last Thursday as they gear up for their first match against Japan’s Urawa Reds.

“I feel fine,” Ronaldo told reporters before working out alone with 30 minutes of light jogging.

The star forward is unlikely to take part in Thursday’s match, but asked if he would be fit should AC Milan reach the final on Sunday, Ronaldo replied: “I will see. I will be trying in the next days.”

Ronaldo has featured in just one match this season, starting against Cagliari two weeks ago in his return from a thigh problem, before injuring his calf in training.

Fellow Brazilian and playmaker Kaka earlier said Milan teammates had been talking to Ronaldo here “because we want him to feel” part of the team.

The 25-year-old Kaka said Ronaldo had gone through “more difficult times,” pointing to his two-year layoff with a knee injury before coming back to help Brazil win the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

Ronaldo scored twice in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 final at the Yokohama International Stadium, which is also the venue of AC Milan’s semi-final in this year’s Club World Cup.

Goal-machine Filippo Inzaghi said he has advised Ronald not to make a premature comeback from injury.

“I know what he is going through. I hope he can recover soon,” Inzaghi said.

“However, he must only return if he is 100 percent, and it’s fair that he thinks it so.”

Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini said “the doctors and us teammates stimulate him” and that “even if it won’t be easy, he will come out of it.”

The Club World Cup runs from December 7-16 in Japan and pits the champions of each continent in a straight knock-out tournament.

Milan and Argentina’s Boca Juniors, who beat the Italian side in the 2003 Intercontinental Cup final, are semi-finalists here.

Both sides won the South American-European Intercontinental Cup three times but never the three-year-old Club World Cup.

Boca will meet Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed the list of players who will participate to the Club World Cup finals, which will be played in Japan between 7 and 16 december.

The biggest question mark surrounded Ronaldo, who suffered a new injury during a warm-up session before the Champions League match against Benfica in midweek. The Brazilian had just made his comeback after a three-month injury lay-off the previous weekend during the victory against Cagliari in Serie A. However, the striker has been included in the 23-man squad for the tournament, which will be composed of two semi-finals and a final.

He’s not expected to recover in time for either this weekend’s match against Juventus or Milan’s last Champions League group game against Celtic, but Ancelotti does expect him to be ready for the Yokohama showpiece.

Here is the list of called up players:
Goalkeepers: Dida, Kalac, Fiori;
Defenders: Cafù, Maldini, Kaladze, Nesta, Simic, Jankulovski, Bonera, Serginho, Oddo;
Midfielders: Emerson, Gattuso, Seedorf, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Brocchi;
Strikers: Inzaghi, Gilardino, Kakà, Ronaldo.