The return of Ronaldo on the pitch may come true after all. According to Corinthians president Andres Sanchez, Ronaldo could make a sensational comeback with the Corinthians.

“Ronaldo is going to play again. I don’t know if he will play three, four or five games, but he will be back,” the chief was quoted as stating by Lance. A contract offer extending until the middle of 2012 is expected to be officialised in the coming days.

If Ronaldo does return, he could be featuring in a friendly against his former clubs Inter and Barcelona. Apparently the Corinthians are offering both clubs €2 million each for an exhibition match, provisionally scheduled for May 25 and June 2.

FIFA.com has put together some statements made by top atheletes about Ronaldo. Ronaldo announced his retirement a couple of weeks ago. It still makes me sad when I think that Ronaldo has left football but I’m glad he’s finally getting some appreciation.

“After yet another groin injury, I gave it a lot of thought and decided I’d reached a point where I had nothing more to give and that the sacrifices were too great, something I never thought would happen. Once I’d made the decision it felt as if I was in Intensive Care with a terminal condition, and that this announcement would be like passing away. Giving up something that’s made me so happy is very tough, I’ve always loved the game and would give anything to carry on. But you can’t win them all and I’ve been beaten by my own body.” stated Ronaldo in a press conference to announce his retirement from the game that made and breaked him.

“He’s the best striker I’ve ever seen.”
Lionel Messi

“Ronaldo is the man and I don’t care what y’all say. [He’s the] best striker ever, hands down, and anyone who doesn’t agree has problems.”
Jozy Altidore

“He went to Holland, Spain and Italy and enhanced the reputation of Brazilian football in all three countries. He came back home and breathed new life into the Brazilian championship and Corinthians. Brazilian people should be grateful for what he’s done for our football.”
Pele

“He was a one-off in terms of ability and had the skill to turn a half-chance into an incredible goalscoring opportunity. He was phenomenal when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Those who saw him play know what I’m talking about. It’s not easy to put it into words, but I’m not exaggerating by any means.”
Zinedine Zidane

“I’d like to have played alongside him, because I’d have been able to put him through on goal all the time. He’s always in the right place to receive the ball and he thinks really quickly. It wasn’t by chance that he was the world’s best player on several occasions. He also did his bit for A Seleção, being a part of two World Cup wins and one second place. He even went on to become the highest scorer in World Cup history. That was a phenomenal feat, in keeping with his nickname.”
Zico

“I didn’t need any time to gel when playing alongside Ronaldo. He knew how I played and I knew where he liked to receive the ball. It was very easy to play with him because he was great at finding the right positions both inside and outside the box. As soon as I picked up the ball, he already knew what I was going to do with it.”
Rivaldo

“He was always an example for young people to look up to, for the way he overcame adversity. I was fortunate enough to play alongside him, my idol, for many years and we had so many great times together. He was always an idol of mine and will always be a friend.”
Ronaldinho

“Just as I’d believed he’d be one of the best players in our Seleção back then, I believe that he’s made the right decision now. I understood that if I backed him he’d be an important player for us (in Korea/Japan). I wish him the very best because he remains one of my best and closest friends, and he was a vital player in a triumph that had a huge impact on him and us.”
Luiz Felipe Scolari

“I’m a huge fan of Ronaldo, I’ve followed his career since his time at Barcelona. I once asked my uncle Miguel Angel [Nadal] if I could get a photo with him. So I even got to go in the dressing room and have a photo taken with one of my biggest idols. There’s no doubt that overcoming adversity, making it back to the very top of the game and winning trophies deserves huge credit.”
Rafael Nadal, the tennis superstar whose uncle was a team-mate of Ronaldo’s at Barça

“One of the most talented footballers ever, Ronaldo won two World Cups with A Seleção and remains the leading scorer at World Cup finals. He was already a genuine legend, even while still playing, and exemplified how to overcome adversity. All of us will be eternally grateful for the joy he gave us and what he did to boost Brazil’s prestige.”
Dilma Rousseff, Brazilian President

Ronaldo’s struggle against the scales has caused him immense grief over the last few years. With the discovery – four years ago – a disorder called hypothyroidism, which slows the body’s metabolism and facilitate weight gain, the Phenomenon packed on some extensive weight. Now retired at age 34, Ronaldo no longer has the commitment of daily training, the grueling pre-season, the strict diet of the clubs doctors and games twice a week, he knows he will need to be careful.

“I will live healthy. Do not want to get fat. I’m not going to get ugly,” revealed Ronaldo in an exclusive interview with TV Globo.

The Phenomenon has never liked to reveal his weight, but reached 100 kilos a few times. He said his biggest problem was hypothyroidism. Since 2007, he knew he had a problem but because he was a professional football player, he could not take the hormones needed for treatment as the drugs may interfere with a possible drug test.

Now that he no longer will be subjected to such tests, Ronaldo will strictly follow the prescription to combat the disorder. But in addition, he promises to exercise. Not out of obligation but out of vanity, for health and leisure.

“I want to create a routine and do fun things like playing tennis, spin classes (on stationary bikes) and bodybuilding. I’m having fun …,” said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo will announce his retirement from football in a press conference on Monday. After stating he wouldn’t retire from football until the end of the year, Ronaldo has decided to hang up his boots early.

He told newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo: ‘I want to stay but I can’t. I think of a move, but I can’t perform it as I want to. It’s time.

He added: ‘My body aches. The head wants to continue, but the body can’t take much more.’

After reading what he had to say, I too thought it was time for Ronaldo to rest his body. A body that has gone through numerous knee injuries and emotional pain from the media and critics.

Although it is sad to see the Phenomenon leave the game, he has all left us with many great memories and to me he will always be the greatest striker of all time!

Pictures of Ronaldo’s career.

Ronaldo has called the fans that attacked the clubs training session on saturday “terrorist.” Since the Corintians’s early exit from the Copa Libertadores, fans have taken their anger out on the Corinthian players. The prime target has been Ronaldo has his old counterpart Roberto Carlos.

Fans are demanding that club president Andres Sanchez, coach Tite, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo all leave the club.

The Phenomenon stated that he understands the fans’ disappointment, but he condemned any sort of violent protest, claiming that the recent activity does not represent the sentiments of the entire Corinthians fans base. He also denounced the vandalism to the cars of multiple players as a lack of respect.

Ronaldo also responded to critics that he is overpaid, stating that he only plays out of the love for the game. He also cited the fact that the club receives millions of US dollars due to the sponsors that he attracted when he came to Corinthians.

The Corinthian players were greeted by angry fans as they returned from a short lived Copa Libertadores campaign. The
Corinthians were kicked out of the Copa Libertadores after losing to Colombians Deportes Tolima 2-0 in the two-legged affair. The players were forced to make an exit at the airport under police escort.

ITN news also showed video of Ronaldo and other players cars smashed up by angry fans. This is not the kind of behaviour you would expect from fans but football in Brazil is like a religion. Ronaldo has had a run in before with fans but this time they have stepped the line.

On the training ground, Ronaldo was abused and there was graffiti on the wall labelling him a “shameless fatty.” When Ronaldo first joined the Corinthians, he commended the fans for their support during the good and the bad times. I’m not too sure if that still holds true to him.

This is what we’ve all dreaded but its happened. Ronaldo and the Corinthians are out of the Copa Libertadores. No FIFA Club World Cup for Ronaldo. His last year as a player will now be focused on becoming league champions.

Losing today will be a burden the team will have to carry with them for the rest of the season, said Ronaldo after a dissapointing display. The first leg ended 0-0 and Corinthians went into the match knowing that they needed a win. Unfortunately it did not work out for them.

“We can’t ask for patience or tolerance from our fans. We failed and we’re very sad,” said Ronaldo.

“We didn’t play well. The pitch also didn’t help our team. It’s inadmissible that the Conmebol (South American Confederation) accept such a field. But that isn’t an excuse, our team really weren’t good in either leg,” added Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has pretty much conquered everything is football. For those that are reading this, you are all aware of Ronaldo’s achievements, and the many times that critics have said that it will be impossible for Ronaldo to comeback. Well he has proved them wrong over and over again. This time he needs to do it again before he hangs his boots up forever, yep FOREVER! It’s hard to believe that we will never see the Phenomenon scoring goals again. Hopefully for all of us, he continues to play in the Charity matches that he organises with his close friend Zidane.

For Ronaldo, his main focus this season is the Copa Libertadores. If successful, he will travel to Japan on the world stage where he once was a hero. This time instead of competing at a International level he will be competing for the Club World Cup. The last time Ronaldo had a chance was with AC Milan, however he was unable to play due to injury.

All this can only happen if Corinthians become South American champions by winning the Copa Libertadores in June. This, then, is a quest that could dominate Ronaldo’s last year as a player. Alternatively, the dream could all be over by the end of the week. To reach the group stage of the Libertadores, Corinthians must get through a tricky qualifying round against Tolima of Colombia.

The sides meet in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. Next week’s second leg is in the Colombian town of Ibague, the capital of the department of Tolima. It is a long trip to meet awkward opponents. Runners-up in the last Colombian championship, Tolima are a team who break at pace.

So those that want to see Ronaldo has much as they can before he retires, then make sure you tune in this Wednesday to watch the Corinthians take on Tolima of Colombia.

Ronaldo jokes with Roberto Carlos and Dentinho.

“Ronaldo, you can come to Flamengo if you like,” said Amorim at the “Esporte Espectacular” program in the local Globo TV, during a report about Ronaldinho Gaucho’s contract on Wednesday.

After making clear she has a lot of respect for Corinthians, where

Ronaldo has played since 2009, Amorim said that she was very sad after the

contract negotiations failed.

“I have nothing against Corinthians, I’d like to open my heart and tell

Ronaldo that if one day he’d like to be part of Flamengo, he’d be very happy here, just like Ronaldinho,” said Amorim, the first woman to be the president of a Brazilian football club.

Ronaldo has always been a Flamengo fan and even trained for several months in the team during his recovery from the knee operation.

Ronaldo was surprisingly hired by Corinthians after his return to Brazil. His contract for two years with Corinthians, has been extended to three.