Ronaldo had to console another Brazilian football legend Romario at an event yesterday as the Brazilian Football Federation announced that they would be donating 32,000 tickets to the underprivileged. 500 tickets per match will be given to the disabled community and to low income families so that they can attend the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil. The total cost will be US$23.8 million but its money well spent for a nation where football is everything.

Neymar had a chance to briefly line up alongside Ronaldo during Ronaldo’s last game for Brazil. The young Santos striker has been labelled the next Ronaldo but even he knows it will be big shoes to fill.

“Ronaldo is my idol and he is an absolute genius,” Neymar told O Globo. “He is held in very high regard in Brazil and it will be very difficult to follow in his footsteps.”

Neymar is only 19 years old and his first major challenge will be the Copa America. The team are without Ronaldinho and Kaka so if he is able to step up to the challenge, then this may mean big things for Brazil.

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Ronaldo will don the yellow shirt one last time, as he will feature from the 30th minute mark to half-time against Romania tomorrow.

Ronaldo stature in Brazil has earned in a farewell that will see Ronaldo play for the very last time. This will give players and fans the chance to say goodbye. Ronaldo has achieved so much during his career and has given so much to Brazil. Ronaldo was one of the last bunch of Brazilian players that made their mark in Europe. Since then there has only been Ronaldinho and Kaka who have really made a difference in Europe. Since then, Robinho has returned to Brazil and Kaka is struggling with fitness.

Young players such as Neymar and Lucas are looking forward to getting the chance to play along side Ronaldo. These players grew up watching their idol and now they have a chance to play with him. They all want to achieve the ultimate in Brazil, which is to win the World Cup. Something that Ronaldo did twice in his 18 year career.

Ronaldo will continue life in football as an agent. His business 9nine, which he owns 45 per cent share, focuses on marketing opportunities in Brazil.

Ronaldo is optimistic of contributing to the game of football and is quoted as saying by PA: “Because of the agency, I’ve been able to keep working with what I like the most – sports.

“Of course I still have a lot to learn in business and in marketing, but I’m working hard, participating in the agency’s day-to-day activities, helping in the decision-making process and meeting with clients and prospects.”

We will surely miss the real Ronaldo and I can’t wait to see him on the pitch against Romania tomorrow.

West Brom winger, James Morrison has admitted that he will live the dream when he shakes hands with his schoolboy idol Ronaldo today.

Scotland meet Brazil at the Emirates today and Ronaldo will be the guest of honour.

Morrison fell in love with football as an 11-year-old watching the France 98 opener between Brazil and Scotland.

But Ronaldo suffered a mysterious seizure before the final against France and was a shadow of himself as the hosts ­triumphed 3-0.

Four years, later, though, Ronaldo scored the goals which won a record fifth World Cup in Japan – much to the Scot’s delight.

Ronaldo piled on the pounds as he battled ­mental problems and injuries but Morrison joked: “Maybe I’ll even get to have a burger with him!”.

“Seriously, as a little kid I remember watching them and aspiring to be like them. My earliest real memory is the 98 World Cup in France, the team with Ronaldo – that was the one for me.

“He’s been such a great ­player, it would be fantastic to see him. He’s the leading scorer of all time in World Cup finals and you can’t take that away.”

The world-famous striker, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994 and 2002, recently called time on his illustrious 18 year career which saw him play football in several high profile European clubs including Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Incredibly Ronaldo scored 352 goals in 515 club appearances and an impressive 62 goals in 97 games for his national team which included an unprecedented and unrepeated 15 goals in World Cup finals.

Organisers are expecting a near sell-out crowd to see the game and watch Ronaldo make his last European appearance in a Brazil shirt as he is presented to both sets of fans before the game. He will also be presented as Chief Guest to both teams, including Brazil whose line up includes rising Chelsea star David Luiz and Inter Milan stars Julio Cesar and Maicon.

Ronaldo remarked: “One of my favourite footballing memories is of the opening game of the 1998 World Cup in Paris against Scotland and the fantastic Scottish fans so I am very excited to be experiencing a Scotland Brazil match once again.”

Craig Levein, Scotland manager expressed his excitement at the prospect of Ronaldo’s imminent visit: “Undeniably Ronaldo is one of the players who defined a generation; his performances on the international stage have changed the face of football and his attendance at this game adds immeasurably to the prestige of what is already shaping up to be a historic game.”

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

Our dreams may come true as Ronaldo may play one last game with the Brazilian squad before he bids farewell. Ronaldo wants to part from the game he loves in his countries yellow jersey. He is trying to get the CBF to agree to letting him and some of his old Brazilian team mates feature in the next friendly.

“I’ll look for the president Ricardo Teixeira to be part of a game with the Brazil squad,” Ronaldo said in an exclusive interview with TV Globo.

The next friendly match in Brazil is scheduled for June 4. It will be against the Netherlands but the CBF has not yet confirmed the location.

“I wanted to bring together players who were with me and play for the audience who loved me and supported me. These people deserve a farewell,” expressed Ronaldo

For Selection, Ronaldo played in four World Cups and won two entered the record books as the highest scorer in the history of the World Cup.

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.