Ronaldo (The Fat One)

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was borne on the twenty second of September, 1976, in Bento Ribeiro, Brazil. A son of Rio de Janeiro's back streets he is nicknamed "The Phenomenon," for his uncanny skill to sneak behind defenders and create space. He signed for his first professional club (Cruzeiro) at fourteen and worked his way through the youth academy to make his first team debut at seventeen. After playing at Cruzeiro for a year, he is spotted by the famous Dutch scout, Piet de Visser, who recommends him to Dutch club PSV who in turn purchase his services for six million dollars. PSV is a spring board for Ronaldo’s career scoring an incredible fifty four goals in only fifty seven appearances and winning the Dutch Cup and Dutch Golden Boot.

After two years Sir Bobby Charlton (the current manager of Barcelona) is attracted to Ronaldo’s good looks...no, I mean skill... and he moves to Barcelona bagging an enormous 47 goals in 49 games and a couple of personal accolades. But Bobby boy gets bored of him and sells him to Inter for a then world record fee. Ronaldo duly lives up to his price tag and adjusts to the Italian game smoothly, almost single handedly winning the UEFA Cup and Serie A. But it is on November 21, 1999, during a Serie A match against Lecce that Ronaldo feels his knee buckle. X-rays after the match confirm that the striker has ruptured a tendon in his knee and will require surgery. He recovers slowly and makes his comeback on April 12, 2000. He plays only seven minutes though, before tragically injuring his knee for a second time. After two operations and years of rehabilitation, Ronaldo is fit for the 2002 FIFA World Cup which he helps Brazil win, collecting the most famous prize in history. After five years at Inter Ronaldo signs for Real Madrid, his jersey sales breaking all records on the first day.

After returning from the World Cup, Ronaldo goes right back to his scoring ways, seeming to have put his injury woes behind him. Real Madrid start the next season brightly with Ronaldo leading the way memorably scoring a hatrick against Manchester Untied in the Champions League quarter-final, guiding Madrid to the Copa del Rey final and also firing the Catalans to the summit of the La Liga. Real was on course for the treble until Ronaldo had another severe injury ruling him out for the rest of the season, and it is then that he and Real Madrid suffer. Madrid suffer a form breakdown in the La Liga seeing them finish 2nd despite being a good distance ahead. They are knocked out of the Champions League semi-final, and are beaten in the Copa del Rey final, leaving them trophy-less, from a season that promised so much. Ronaldo also suffers--losing his personal battle to stay away from the night clubs, and quickly packing on the pounds.

Ronaldo joins Milan in 2007 after being deemed below par for Real Madrid (He had to pay half of his fee of seven point five million…not a good sign). None to say, he played there for one year before rupturing his knee ligament again while jumping for a cross. He was stretchered off in tears and it was later confirmed that he would be injured for the rest of the year (Milan were criticized for playing Ronaldo while he was unfit and overweight). After he recovers Ronaldo transfers to the Brazilian team Corinthians only to be swallowed in more controversy, getting mixed up in a prostitution scandal, only to later discover that they were, in fact…men (imagine his face - Ronaldo: “hey there pretty lady, what’s your name?” Cross Dresser in DEEP VOICE: “Pablo” :)). Ronaldo continues to play for Corinthians.

Copyright@2010 by Salem Brooks
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