:: 19-1-04 The Ronaldo to London story just will not go away. According to Brazilian newspaper O Globo Ronaldo is really unhappy at Real Madrid and wants away to Chelsea (wrong London club mate!!). Apparently, Ronaldo is unhappy with the constant criticism he has received from Spanish press about his weight, constant criticisms from the Madrid fans (I unsubscribed from a Real Madrid fan list because I found all the constant criticisms about Ronaldo annoying and unreasonable) and the hefty fine he received (that he felt was unjust) . The newspaper predicts that Ronaldo will be playing in the Premiership next season (yay!!!). Sorry to the Madrid supporters but I'm a Londoner.

:: 13-1-04 Ronaldo has been getting into trouble with Real Madrid because of attempting to attend a Chelsea match in London. Apparently, the star was due to attend the match with the agent who negotiated Makelele's transfer to Chelsea. Ronaldo was apparently ordered to return to Spain without seeing the match. He was later fined the equivalent of £4000.00 (apparently for turning up late for training). The latest on this saga is that Ronaldo had to be taken out for lunch by the President of the club because he has taken offence to the recent events.

:: 5-1-04 The latest rumor regarding transfers comes from Britain's "Sunday Mirror" which claims the following: “Inter Milan will sell (Christian) Vieri to Chelsea and replace him by signing Ronaldo from Real Madrid, who will replace him by moving for (Michael) Owen”.

:: 2-7-03 Ronaldo is due to appear in a fund-raising match organised by fellow Madrid team-mate Figo. The match is due to take place in Porto (stadium of Boavista) and proceeds will go to Figo's children's foundation and to UNICEF. Other named participants include Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Rui Costa, Edgar Davids, Francesco Toldo, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Michael Schumacher. Figo's team will be coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlos Queiroz. The UNICEF team will be managed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Vincente Del Bosque.

:: 21-5-03 Ronaldo has won the Laureus award in the category of Best Comeback. Ronaldo also picked up the Laureus World Team of the Year Award on behalf of the Brazilian national team. Ronaldo is now the first sportsman to collect two Laureus World Sports Awards Statuettes in the same year.

:: 12-5-03 Could there be a sign of a summer transfer for Ronaldo?? ... Following Real Madrid's recent poor run in the Spanish La Liga, Jorge Valdano (the team's sports chief) was quoted stating that "Any one of our players could find the door opened to leave if they wished it, including Ronaldo. ... At Real Madrid, we only want players who are committed to the shirt. Which is why we would quickly get rid of anyone who wasn't totally with us." Should we see this as a sign of a chasm between the star and his club especially given earlier comments about Ronaldo by the bosses at Madrid.

:: 28-4-03. AC Milan vice-president Adraino Galliani says his club plan to sign either David Beckham, Figo or Ronaldo this summer. Personally, I think AC Milan would be a bit too close to a former home for Ronaldo.

:: 20-4-03 Ronaldo has been named as part of the line-up for Brazil's forthcoming friendly against Mexico. The match is due to take place on the 30th of April 2003. Getting a bit close to crunch with regard to the football season. This match couldn't take place during the summer??

:: 26-3-03 Ronaldo has been nominated for a Laureus world sports award in the category of Best Comeback. His rivals for the award include Pete Sampras, Janica Kostelic, Hermann Maier and German Franziska van Almsick.

:: 26-3-03 Might Ronaldo be on his way to Manchester United?? Today's papers claim that Spanish club Real Madrid are interested in buying David Beckham from Manchester United. I can only see this happening if they are planning to sell one of their stars to United in return. Ronaldo seems like the person that would most fit the bill. Also, when Inter Milan were interested in buying Beckham last year they had to be prepared to give up Ronaldo in return.

:: 18-3-03 Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win away to Lokomotiv by using his head!! He gave Madrid the lead in the 35th minute with a header. This is the first Ronaldo goal via a header that I'm aware of.

:: 10-3-03 According to "Marca" Ronaldo has bought 30,000 euros worth of shares in Spanish football club Salamanca.

:: 2-3-03 Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a 5-1 victory over Alaves (1-3-03) by scoring a hat-trick.

:: 25-2-03 In dedication to Ronaldo the opening of the Rio de Janeiro carnival is due to feature 130 Ronaldo lookalikes dressed in the Brazilian replica kit and wearing the famous Ronaldo's anti-mohican haircut.

:: 19-2-03 Ronaldo has scored his first UEFA Champions League goal of the 2002/03 season with Real Madrid as they beat Borusia Dortmund.

:: 17-2-03 Reports have emerged from the Real Madrid camp implying that all is not well for Ronaldo. Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque apparently accused Ronaldo of not being committed to working for the team while hosting a function. Later Del Bosque tried to play down his comments. However, by the next day the reporters were in their element stating that this has caused Ronaldo to consider a move from Real Madrid to Arsenal. Funny enough the quotes I read sounded much like the ones Ronaldo made on earlier occasions (after World Cup 2002 when asked about moving to the premiership and last year) and do appear to have been taken out of context. In return, the media has had a field day stating that Patrick Viera (current captain of Arsenal) does not think that Arsenal needs Ronaldo.

1998-01-25 - The Brazilian star Ronaldo appeared naked on US television in an advertisement during the Super Bowl. Ronaldo appeared in an ad by sportswear firm, Nike. As the Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brazil claimed, the soccer player was among several other sporting stars appearing nearly completely nude.
The others were the NBA basketball player David Robinson, women's basket heroine Lisa Leslie, double world and Olympic athletics champion Michael Johnson and fellow sprinter Suzy Hamilton.
Ronaldo said: "Suzanna (ex-girlfriend) and I will get married on August 19 and we'll live in Milan", the 21-year-old Brazilian goal machine told Focus.
Ronaldo said that when he first set eyes on his wife-to-be in a discotheque, "it was like a thunderbolt", adding that he wanted to start a family in the near future.

2002-06-01 - Ronaldo says he has sex with his wife before every match to ensure he plays at his peak. The Brazilian ace said contrary to popular belief sex was the perfect way for top players to prepare for a big game. But he added the woman should do most of the work with the man relaxing and saving his energy for football. Ronaldo said he believed sex with his wife, former model Milene Dominguez, was the secret of his own success in football. Speaking on the Late-Night show of Spanish TV channel Tele 5 the Real Madrid striker said: "Sex a couple of hours before the match is the key to success. The man has to be rather passive and just enjoy the experience. This relaxes him and makes him happy, which in turn gives him a whole load of energy". The Brazilian agreed however that there was some truth to claims sex in some circumstances could be bad before a game. He said: "If the player is too active during sex, then he is wasting energy which he will lack later on during the match." Ronaldo said he had used the same tactic in the past with previous girlfriends right back to his time with PSV Eindhoven six years ago, his first club in Europe.

Just after the World Cup 2002
Ronaldo faced a typically unique inquisition from Brazil's press as the carnival started to celebrate their fifth World Cup Final triumph. Brazil's two-goal hero was reduced to tears of laughter when he was asked the question on everybody's lips as he reflected on the win against Germany in Yokohama. And the burning question was: "What is more rewarding - winning the World Cup or having sex after going without it for 40 days?" Ronaldo gathered his composure and answered in a way which he claimed would please his coach Felipe Scolari. "Winning the World Cup is more rewarding," he insisted.

Ronaldo Luiz Nazário de Lima , simply known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian footballer who is widely considered to be one of the best strikers of all time.

Ronaldo's talent was first spotted as a 14 year old by Brazilian World Cup winner Jairzinho whilst he was coaching amateur side Sao Cristovao. Jairzinho quickly recommended Ronaldo to the Brazil youth team, he also ensured that the talented youngster signed for his own former club, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, when he was old enough to sign a professional contract.

In 1993, aged 16, Ronaldo had already scored 59 goals in 57 matches for Brazil's under 17 squad. By 1994 he had joined the squad of the national team, but didn't get to play a single minute on the pitch of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

In 1996–1997, Ronaldo played arguably his best season, scoring numerous spectacular goals for FC Barcelona. One of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of the most amazing goals in football.

Chosen the World's best player in 1996 and 1997, he had a disappointing performance during the 1998 World Cup, scoring only 4 goals, and losing the final to host team France after suffering a mysterious fit in the night before. The fit's circumstances still remain unclear and a source of speculation.

He then moved to a club he considered more promising and more respected: Inter Milan. Fans all over the world jumped the bandwagon and supported the world's most glamorous footballer, receiving praise from the Italians all over. Ronaldo's fame grew as he was constantly in the action for the Italian juggernauts.

In April 1999, Ronaldo married Milene Domingues. The marriage lasted 4 years and ended in a divorce.

A year later, he severely injured his right knee and was out of the game for several months. During his first comeback in 2000, he managed to play a few minutes during a league game against Lazio before injuring his knee for a second time.

After 2 operations and 20 months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo managed a comeback during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals during the tournament (and tied with Pelé for a Brazilian record 12 total World Cup goals), leading Brazil to win an unprecedented fifth World Championship. In 2002, he was awarded the title of the World's best soccer player for the third time, and transferred from Inter Milan to Real Madrid after frequent disputes with current Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper.

On June 2, 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick for Brazil against archrivals Argentina in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2006 World Cup. He scored all of Brazil's goals in a 3-1 win via penalty kicks.

As of 2004, Ronaldo is still playing football, and is still considered one of the world's best strikers