2006 to be Ronaldo's last World Cup

why should he play for flamengo?? that would be a waste of his time, and end sadly a career that is very good!! no player deserves to end career in Flamengo, because if they play for it the only thing that they are going to feel.. will be shame!

 

LOL....this guy really loves his corinthians!...I think it would for Ronaldo to go back to his roots..Brasil everntually before he ends off his career

 

yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

VIVA RONALDO...o DOIS!

 

Did anyone read this interview with J.Kfouri? http://lancenet.ig.com.br/lancea+/

Here's a nice moment that humanizes him. He reveals asking Dida to hang-out with him (after the team luncheon) before the finals against Germany 2002; not wanting to be alone given the bad memories of 1998.

JK: O que você pensou antes de dormir na véspera de Brasil e Alemanha, final da Copa de 2002? Passou o filme de 1998?

Na véspera, não. Passou o filme no dia do jogo. Eu lembro que em 98 foi depois do almoço que eu tive a convulsão. Em 2002, eram quartos individuais, e depois do almoço - o jogo era às 20h - todos os jogadores foram descansar e eu não queria ir para o quarto e ficar sozinho. Desliguei os telefones na véspera e no dia do jogo também não atendia ninguém. Depois do almoço fui procurar o Dida e pedi: "Fica aqui comigo, porque eu não quero dormir". E depois do almoço dá um soninho, e eu com medo de dormir, e resisti, o Dida puxando conversa ...

JCA: E o Dida também não dormiu...

Fiquei a tarde toda com ele, nos deram um taco de golfe, ficamos no corredor brincando, o tempo passou e não tive problema nenhum.

Interesting comments here about the 2002 squad. He says its the best team he's ever played on. One of the reasons for this is that they played with tranquility, confident that they need not decide the outcome of a game early (confident that they could win a game at any moment). He implies that this same sort of team confidence is what they are seeking approach with this current squad:

JK: Qual o melhor time em que você já jogou?

A Seleção de 2002.

JK: Acha aquela Seleção de 2002 melhor que o Real Madrid?

Eu acho.

JCA: E para 2006? O Parreira disse que o time entra como o grande favorito da Copa.

É o grande favorito.

JK: Você acha que o time hoje é mais forte do que o de 2002?

Eu acho que o time hoje é bem forte. Em 2002 a gente tinha uma confiança e um entrosamento tão grandes que a gente sabia que podia ganhar a qualquer momento, não entrava tipo "temos que fazer um gol aos dez minutos". A gente jogava tranqüilamente. É esse equilíbrio que temos que procurar aqui.

Question is, when did this confidence get built...in the month before the cup?

 

I really hope that 2006 is his farewell to the World Cup scene. He's done plenty already - although 1998 is a painful memory to him and to all lovers of Brazilian soccer, he (and Brazil) couldn't have had more of a storybook campaign in 2002.

Ronaldo has already tied Pelé as Brazil's all-time top World Cup scorer and there is no doubt he will surpass Pelé. That alone, regardless of whether he is as central to a Brazilian World Cup title campaign in 2006 as he was in 2002, will spark debate as to whether he can be called the greatest of all time. As farfetched as that sounds, let's remember that there are young if uninfluential soccer fans in Brazil who (like it or not) consider Ronaldo to be the best.

IMO, Adriano and Ronaldinho Gaucho seem likelier than Ronaldo to stand out next year. And perhaps Adriano will outscore Ronaldo next year. Still, Ronaldo will score AT LEAST 3-4 goals in 2006.

Ronaldo turns 30 in the fall of 2006. He will probably begin to slow down not unlike Rivaldo experienced a downturn after 2002. But unlike Romario, Ronaldo has a clue as to when to stop.

But win or lose next year, Ronaldo's left his mark in the pantheon of Brazilian soccer demigods and secured his place in the International Football Hall Of Champions. Of course, like Pelé in 1970 and Michael Jordan in 1998, there would be no better way for him to leave the NT as a World Cup champion again.

And of course, I certainly hope to see him - and his teammates - hoist the trophy on the last day of the 2006 World Cup.

 

In my book,Ronaldo can play until whenever he wants,and retire whenever he wants.He is a living legend.
The early Ronaldo is the best striker in the history of football (unless you consider Pelé a true striker) and the Ronaldo today when he is in form (like he is now for Real Madrid..5 games,4 goals,4 assists) is by far the best striker in the world. Who would have thought this after that horrible injury? The man can't even bend his right knee as much as he can his left,yet he torments defenses every game and still flips the ball 10 meters out in front of him and burns defenders,still leads leagues in scoring,and so on,and so on,and so on. Doing all of this after the injury is unheard of,Imagine what could have been if he does not get hurt?

Because we are Brasil we take strikers for granted because it seems like the fountain of talent never ends when one generation gets old,there is another bunch of superstars that come after. But what people should realize,and I'm sure a lot of you do,is that a striker like Ronaldo my friends only comes around once in a lifetime.

Ronaldo Vôce é um Fenômeno,um jogador como vôce é uma fez na vida e outra na morte...força Ronnie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ronaldo I think has a style of play that is particularily vunerable to aging. He will be tooo old by 2010 anyway. Unless he suddenly develops this incredible dedication, year after year, of staying in top fitness and possibly using the most advanced doping techniques available (human growth hormone for example - big in helping athletes in their 30s in particular)

For sure? Brazil might only play four matches. Quite possibly more... but 3-4 goals is a lot for a WC. I'd say he has a good chance of getting 3-4 goals+assists though.

 

KingSaladin,I don't expect Ronnie to play at WC 2010,all i'm saying is he should be the one to decide when he stops. I doubt he will be trying to play when he is clearly past his prime,and knowing there will be so many great young players,when his time is up he will know and let everybody else know.

CenturysBest: I wouldn't put it past Ronaldo to be the standout player again.
Everything Ronaldo is doing this season is going to be a build up for the WC which he knows will likely be his last. This World Cup means everything to Ronaldo for many reasons:

1: He is tied with Pelé at 12 for Brasil's all-time world cup goalscorer,with his next WC goal Ronaldo will stand alone as Brasil's all-time scorer in WC competition

2:Ronaldo is 2 goals away from tying Gerhard Mueller and Just Fontaine (14 goals) as the All-time Goalscorer of FIFA World Cup competitions. And only 3 away from standing alone,as the number 1 goalscorer of All-Time in World Cup Competitions (incredible isn't it?)

3:Ronaldo badly wants to tie Pelé's record of 3 World Cup championships,a win in 2006 and Ronaldo and Cafu will go into the history books with Pelé as the only 3 players in history to win 3 World Cups.

4:A win in 2006 and Ronaldo would do something even O Rei never dreamed of, be in 4 world cups and go to 4 world cup finals.

Because of all of this,I wouldn't bet against Ronaldo being the standout player again,all of his exercise work being done and mental preperation is all for WC 2006 which could be his last shining moment

 

2006 Ronaldo last WC? I hope so because by 2010 he will be even fatter and slower.

 

If he is fatter and slower and still burning defenders like he is now I wouldn't mind having him on my team. His appearance should matter to females,all I care about is goals.

Thats right Ombak 13 for Fontaine,I thought he had scored 14 in 58.
Thats pretty unbelievable 2 ...13 goals in 1 world cup.

 

He is thinner now than he has been for the past few years.

He had an excellent pre-season and has started this season off better than last season.. I hope he can stay consistent and keep his form for the WC next year. I have high hopes for him, and I'm sure he does, too.

 

hes a living legend , i hope he goes for his 4 wc final,and bring the title to brazil once again, so he can be side to side to one of the greatest players in the world, pele.

 

man some of this lovely posts about Ronaldo really makes me wanna cry lol

Ronaldo had done so much good things for football and was a joy to watch as a fan. I'd be really sad to see Ronaldo retire after WC 06 in Germany, especially if Brasil dont win it all..now lets hope that wont be the case.

does anyone agree that if Ronaldo wins the WC with Brasil and became the all-time scoring leader he'd have a strong case of being the greatest ever if not already?

This is coming from a non brasilian fan btw. Ronaldo is by far the best player this generation have ever seen.

 

Greatest ever player? Nah, that will always be Pele.

 

Things might change later, you never know.

 

The only thing that will stop him from being the greatest ever is the same thing that has stopped everybody before him...Pelé.
Really I mean watch some Pelé highlights or something,Pelé Eterno should do it,watch that and you won't even make those kind of comments

 

"The only thing that will stop him from being the greatest ever is the same thing that has stopped everybody before him...Pelé."

hahah...so true...

 

Well, he won't get a chance to break his run - he won't be there in La Paz!!

 

He should break it against the last team he scored against,Venezuela.

 

Yes, and I hope he does. I love the boy. Twenty one to go to equal Pele's 77.

 

Best player I have ever seen, and I'm old enough to remeber Zico, Cruyff, Maradona, Gazza, Baggio, etc.