The Other Ronaldo
On the heels of Ronaldo’s two goal performance this wekk against Brazilian minnows Ponte Preta I wanted to take some time and briefly reflect on the many ups and downs of Ronaldo’s career.
In many respects it would be hard to feel sorry for a man who has made millions of dollars, is known all over the world and holds the World Cup record for most goals ever but in Ronaldo’s case I actually do feel for the man. Just by watching his body language over the years it just seems like he lost his love for football along time ago. While many of us going through high school, chasing girls and playing sport for the sheer love of it, here you have a reserved kid already being ear marked as the next and maybe ever greatest Brazilian player ever produced.
Ronaldo was bought over to be little more than a tourist in the 1994 World Cup but eyes were already focusing in on him as it would clear the then 17 year was going to be the one Brazil would turn to four years later at the 1998 World Cup. In between 1994 and 1998 Ronaldo had already made three big money moves. First to PSV where he was able to horn his skills without the intense spotlight of Italian and Spanish football glaring on him. Former PSV and now Barcelona coach Sir Bobby Robson came calling and bought Ronaldo to Barcelona where he was an unstoppable force scoring 34 goals in 37 games, helping Barcelona along the way to the UEFA Cup. Finally in 1997 he moved to Inter Milan leading up to the 1998 World Cup.
No one truly knows what happen the night before the 1998 World Cup final but his seizure and Brazil eventual 3-0 defeat to France soured many a opinion for many a year when it came to Ronaldo. By this time it must of been obvious to Ronaldo that whatever he does he’d always be in the shadow of most noticeably Pele. Imagine living your life and no matter the accomplishments you achieve people are always going to compare it against only the greatest (arguable) football player who has ever lived? Nothing Ronaldo could do during this time could stand on it’s own. Everything he did people either compared it to Pele or said with his talent Ronaldo could still do so much more.
Another thing also occurred after the 1998 World Cup, years of punishment by defenders who were forced to foul Ronaldo caught up to him as he spent most of the time between 1999 and 2002 injured. Ronaldo moment in the sun obviously came at the 2002 World Cup, one that Brazil struggled to even qualify for while he was injured. Despite arriving at the tournament very much a question mark, he left a month later World Champion something that no historian could take away from him.
The summer of 2002 was pretty much the zenith of Ronaldo’s career. Despite playing for storied clubs like Real Madrid and A.C Milan afterwards, his greatest statement was made at the World Cup of 2002. No one could deny his talent or place in the football history capped off with scoring two goals against Germany in finals. People may knock his passion and dedication to the game and continually ask what if but if they stopped asking what if and looked at what he did accompish surely one would marvel at everything Ronaldo has done in his playing career.
March 27th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Ronaldo is an absolute hero and undisputable legend. When i was a kid his name was just synonymous with football excellence like he was just the king. When we’d be playing at breaktime in school anytime somebody would do something amazing theyd shout “rooooonnnnaaaallllllddoooooo” lol. It pains me to see all the injuries hes had but his story is movie stuff. Football fans love ronaldo.