Born in a poor neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 18, 1976, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Luna became one of the biggest soccer stars of the late 20th century, a worthy successor to Pele and other Brazilian one-name stars. Ronaldo captured the FiFA award as the best player in the world a record three times. Only injuries slowed Ronaldo -- serious knee injuries compromised his play at a relatively early age. After several comebacks, Ronaldo retired from the pitch in 2011. He was named one of the top 11 soccer players of all-time by France.
Youth
The youngest of three children, Ronaldo began playing futsal, a 5-on-5 soccer game that is extremely popular in Brazil and other South American countries. Futsal is played on an indoor or outdoor field the size of a basketball court. Pele and other Brazilian stars also played futsal, which honed their quickness of foot and ball-handling skills. In 1993, at the age of 16, Ronaldo turned pro and scored 57 goals in 59 matches. He won a spot on Brazil's winning World Cup team in 1994, although he didn't play. But World Cup glory was on the horizon.
Glory Years
In 1996, 1997 and 2002, Ronaldo was selected by FIFA, the world governing organization of soccer, as the best football player in the world. With exceptional speed, power, creativity and footwork, Ronaldo was considered the Muhammad Ali of soccer, leaving defenders flummoxed. He played for world-renowned soccer powers Inter Milan and Real Madrid. At 20, he was the youngest to win the FIFA award as best player and he remains the only three-time winner, as of 2011. Nicknamed The Phenomenon, Ronaldo led the Brazilian team into the 1998 World Cup title match in France. Although Ronaldo scored four goals in the tournament, he suffered a convulsion just hours before the final and France prevailed 3-0. Late in 1999, a knee injury sidelined Ronaldo for five months, and when he returned, he tore a tendon in the knee and was out of action for 17 months. At age 24, it appeared that Ronaldo's career was over.
Comeback
Ronaldo wasn't finished. His selection to the 2002 World Cup team was panned by critics, but Ronaldo scored eight goals and led Brazil to its fifth World Cup triumph. Ronaldo continued to excel in the 2006 World Cup. Approaching the age of 30, Ronaldo scored three more goals. Although Brazil lost in the quarterfinals, Ronaldo became the leading scorer in World Cup history. Further knee injuries and an undisclosed case of hyperthyroidism, which led to weight gains that made Ronaldo appear fat and out of shape, dogged his last few years and led to his retirement early in 2011.
Off the Pitch
Ronaldo was renowned for the beautiful women who appeared at his side. He married in 1999, had a son in 2000 and divorced in 2003. In 2005, he married Brazilian model Daniella Cicarelli, but the union lasted less than three months. After dating supermodel Raica Oliveira for about a year, he met and married Bia Antony. They have two daughters. At his retirement, Ronaldo said he would turn his attention to acting. However, his post-soccer claim to fame more likely will be his role as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Appointed in 2000, Ronaldo visits war-torn countries and talks about ending the violence for the sake of the poor, especially children, who suffer the most. "No one should be doomed to a life of poverty, whether by birth or as a consequence of war," Ronaldo said.
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