Some goals from the GREAT ONE http://globoesporte.globo.com/progr...-e-escolha-o-gol-mais-bonito-do-fenomeno.html
I am just thinking, has O Fenomeno's biggest fan, Colorado Gaucho paid any respects to Ronaldo here?!
"I just want to say to my friend Ronaldo what an honour it was playing with him and becoming his good friend... He was not just an amazing person but along with Zidane, one of the most talented and gifted players in football history and I was honoured to have been in the same team as him whilst at Real Madrid." David Beckham Roberto Carlos speaks on Ronaldos retirement http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/6...arlos-corinthians-fan-abuse-was-big-factor-in
Add some more quotes: Steve McManaman:"You would give him the ball and he wasn't a typical centre forward. He wouldn't just lay it off and move into position. No, he could beat two or three men himself, do the stepovers and go past people. He'd create goals and chances for himself. He was a fantastic centre forward and probably underrated in England because we never really saw him [on a regular basis] first hand because he plied his trade all across Europe. It's a pity that English people [perhaps] don't fully appreciate him because he will go down as one of the greats" Albert Celades, said to me (McManaman) that when Ronaldo was at Barcelona in 1996-1997 - where he scored 47 goals in 49 games - he was the most incredible football player you have ever seen. And that he could have been the best ever had he not suffered so badly with injuries. Celades played with him, and said he would just pick a ball up in training, beat 10 men and score. They could not get the ball off him.
“Se eu tiver o Ronaldo por seis meses, ele disputa a Copa de 2014.” Exclusiva com Nuno Cobra, o preparador de Ayrton Senna… http://esportes.r7.com/blogs/cosme-...-com-nuno-cobra-o-preparador-de-ayrton-senna/
The problem is that nobody can probably motivate Ronaldo. Plus I disagree that a player (or athlete) has the same potential physically from 20 to 40. That statement is BS in my opinion.
Intriguing though. What will be interesting is Ronaldo finds himself missing futebol after months and months of not playing. 'We' need to find out if his weight really is a case of him not behaving as an athlete should, or if this thyroid thing is not under control.
The real issue is not his weight but injuries. His body mainly his knees and thighs could not handle the way he played - fast acceleration, twisting legs to do Steps over, Elastico, chop ...during high speed run. Everytime he got injured and stayed off the pitch (without training), he gained weights tremendously.
The weight caused those injuries. He gained too much mass for his structure. If I get the time, I'll translate the article I posted in which Aryton Senna's former fitness coach explains what Ronaldo needs to do to return to form and why he got hurt so much. I actually agree with most of the article.
This is like "chicken & eggs" ... But FAct was Ronaldo started getting injuries here and there from early 99, until his 1st serious knee ligament broken in end of 99. At time, his weigh was near perfect (for his height) from 78Kg in 97 to 82Kg in 99 (5kg gained with his injuries) Now in 2001 when he got 2nd knee injured, and then he returned to WC2002 with 86kg (another 6kg more AFTER injured) At 2006, returned to WC from another knee injured, his weight was like 91Kg At Corinthians, after 2009 injuries, his weight was >100Kg ... ================================================= Link to see his weight problem started in 99 ... Ronaldo wore diapers during '99 Copa America, says former coach " ...According to Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who managed Ronaldo on both the Brazilian National Team and Real Madrid, the legendary striker wore adult diapers during the 1999 Copa America tournament as a result of incontinence. It appears the diet pills the “Phenomenon” was taking at the time to control his burgeoning weight problems had some really, really unpleasant side effects. “Ronaldo was already overweight, and we explored every possible way of making him drop some pounds,” Luxemburgo said, according to AS of Spain. “The [team] doctor gave him medicine, Xenical, which was effective, but it also accelerated his bowel movements. So, in order to avoid any “incidents,” the player had to wear diapers, which embarrassed him.” Even embarrassment and diapers couldn't stop Ronaldo from leading La Selecao to its then-sixth Copa America title with five goals - giving him Golden Boot honors alongside fellow Brazilian Rivaldo."
Actually he already had knee problems well before 99. In 96, while at PSV, he needed to go under the knife to shave off some cartilage in his knee. Plus he showed up in 2006 with 95kg and not 91kg. Some even said he showed up with 98kg.
No one knows his real weight. At time, only Ronaldo claimed he was "near good ideal weight (~88K at Real02-04)" and that was 90.5Kg (I rounded off 91). Neither Runco, nor Parreira mentioned about Ronaldo's real weight at that time! I am not surprised if he was 95 or even heavier at WC06
Poland 1997. The first game wearing Nike. [ame="http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM972531-7824-EM+BRASIL+GOLEIA+POLONIA+COM+SHOW+DA+DUPLA+RORO,00.html"]Globo Vídeos - VIDEO - Em 1997, Brasil goleia Polônia com show da dupla Ro-Ro@@AMEPARAM@@midiaId=972531&autoStart@@AMEPARAM@@972531[/ame]
Ronaldo wants farewell match 17 February 2011-AFP Brazil star Ronaldo, who announced his retirement on Monday, hopes to bow out of the game by making a final showing for his country, Globo television says. "I want to make it a great party. I will go and see (Brazilian Football Confederation) president Ricardo Teixeira to make it a match for the Brazilian national side," said the 34-year-old. "I want to bring together players who were with me and appear in front of a public who loved and helped me. "These people deserve a send-off," said the former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker who has appeared sporadically for Corinthians since returning from Italy but who says his body cannot take up more strain after a raft of injuries dogged much of his career. Ronaldo, often criticised from his Madrid days as being rather portly, also revealed that he suffered from a thyroid problem that had made it difficult to control his weight. The forward, nicknamed 'el Fenomeno' or simply 'R9', said he hoped he could get a final appearance for Brazil organised within the next few months. The Folha de Sao Paulo daily reported that Teixeira was intending to contact him over a possible farewell match. ======================================================== Yeah I think it'd be after Copa11
The 7th of June...cap number 98! http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/noti...ecao-em-jogo-contra-romenia-no-pacaembu.html#
I would like to see him get a 100 caps. I say we set up 3 meaningless friendlies and the last one be the retirement game. I also would like some of the other legends to play like Rivaldo, Cafu, etc. Those were some good times.
Honor Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Cafu and Carlos. All of whom are very fondly remembered from the great 2002 era. And all of them will go down as legend's as some of brazil's best produced talent. At least Rivaldo, had it not been for that guy A) Brazil would not of won the WC B) Ronaldo would NOT be the top scorer of all time.
This is what makes my mind boggle.... As great as Romario and Ronaldo were, why in the hell was Romario's last game vs Guatemela(of all the teams in the world!!) And why is Ronaldo playing vs Romania? Couldn't the CBF and FIFA come up with Brazil v a FIFA All-Star team??