Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ronaldo

Ronaldo in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1976-09-18) 18 September 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Itaguaí, Brazil
Height	1.83 m
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1990–1993	São Cristóvão
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1993–1994	Cruzeiro	34	(34)
1994–1996	PSV	46	(42)
1996–1997	Barcelona	37	(34)
1997–2002	Inter Milan	68	(49)
2002–2007	Real Madrid	127	(83)
2007–2008	AC Milan	20	(9)
2009–2011	Corinthians	52	(29)
Total		384	(280)
National team
1993	Brazil U17	7	(5)
1996	Brazil U23	8	(6)
1994–2011	Brazil	98	(62)
Honours Men's football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 1994 United States Winner 2002 Korea/Japan Runner-up 1998 France FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 1997 Saudi Arabia Copa América Winner 1997 Bolivia Winner 1999 Paraguay Runner-up 1995 Uruguay Olympic Games Bronze 1996 Atlanta Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (born 18 September 1976), known simply as Ronaldo, is a famous Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a striker. Many people think he is one of the greatest players ever. He was so good that he was nicknamed O Fenômeno (The Phenomenon) and R9. Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times. He also won two Ballon d'Or awards.

Ronaldo started his career at Cruzeiro. He then moved to PSV in 1994. In 1996, he joined Barcelona for a world record transfer fee. At just 20 years old, he was named the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year. This made him the youngest player to ever win that award. In 1997, Inter Milan paid another world record fee to sign Ronaldo. He was the first player since Diego Maradona to break the world transfer record twice. By age 21, he won the 1997 Ballon d'Or, becoming its youngest winner. He had scored over 200 goals for his clubs and country by age 23.

However, Ronaldo faced many knee injuries. These kept him from playing for almost three years. He joined Real Madrid in 2002. There, he won the 2002–03 La Liga title. He also played for AC Milan and Corinthians. Ronaldo retired in 2011 because of more injuries.

Ronaldo played 98 matches for Brazil. He scored 62 goals, making him the third-highest goalscorer for his country. At 17, he was the youngest player on the Brazilian team that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he helped Brazil reach the final. He won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Before the final, he had a sudden health issue. He still played, but Brazil lost.

He made a great comeback at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was a star player with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. Ronaldo scored two goals in the final. He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer. This amazing return from injury earned him the 2002 FIFA World Player of the Year and the 2002 Ballon d'Or. He also won the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year. In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal. This was a record at the time. He also won the 1997 Copa América and the 1999 Copa América.

Ronaldo was one of the most popular athletes in the world. He was on the FIFA 100 list of great living players chosen by Pelé. He is also in several Football Halls of Fame. In 2020, he was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. This team lists the greatest players of all time. Ronaldo also works as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador. In 2018, he became the main owner of La Liga club Real Valladolid. In 2021, he bought a big share in his childhood club, Cruzeiro. He sold his share in Cruzeiro in 2024.

Early Life and Futsal Fun

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was born on 18 September 1976. He was the third child in his family. His parents separated when he was 11. Ronaldo left school soon after to play football. He played on the streets of Bento Ribeiro, a part of Rio de Janeiro. His mother said he was always playing ball outside.

At 12, he joined the Social Ramos futsal team. Futsal is a type of indoor football. He scored a record 166 goals in his first season! This included 11 goals in one game. Ronaldo said futsal helped him learn his amazing skills. His coach said Ronaldo was special because of his attitude. Nothing bothered him on the field.

A former Brazilian player, Jairzinho, noticed Ronaldo. Jairzinho was coaching São Cristóvão. Ronaldo quickly moved up through their youth teams. He played for the under-17 and under-20 teams at just 15. Jairzinho told his old club, Cruzeiro, about the talented 16-year-old.

Club Career Highlights

Cruzeiro: A Young Star Shines

Ronaldo quickly caught the eye of big clubs. He turned down offers from other teams. He even tried to join Flamengo, his favorite team. But he missed practice because he couldn't afford the bus fare. Jairzinho helped him move to Cruzeiro. Ronaldo's agents accepted an offer of €50,000. He scored four goals in his first youth team game.

He made his professional debut on 25 May 1993. This was against Caldense. His first senior goal came in a friendly game in Portugal. He impressed his new coach, Carlos Alberto Silva. Ronaldo quickly became a regular player. During that trip, Porto offered $500,000 for him. But Cruzeiro turned it down.

When he returned, he scored 20 goals in 21 games for Cruzeiro. On 5 October 1993, he scored his first hat-trick. This was against Colo-Colo in the Supercopa Libertadores. He scored eight goals in that tournament. He was the youngest player to be the top scorer. On 7 November 1993, he scored five goals in one game. This was a 6–0 win against Bahia. He became the second youngest South American to score a league hat-trick, after Pelé.

Ronaldo scored 44 goals in 47 games for Cruzeiro. He helped them win their first Copa do Brasil in 1993. They also won the Minas Gerais State Championship in 1994.

PSV: European Adventure Begins

Ronaldo joined PSV in the Netherlands after the 1994 World Cup. He was only 17, but he didn't play in the World Cup. His Brazil teammate Romário told him to join PSV. On 28 August 1994, Ronaldo scored ten minutes into his first game. He scored two goals in his home debut. He scored 30 league goals in his first season. This included seven games with two goals and one game with three goals.

After he scored three goals against Bayer Leverkusen, their striker said he had never seen an 18-year-old play like that. Ronaldo's dribbling skills amazed everyone. His future Barcelona teammate Luis Enrique said Ronaldo was the most amazing player he had ever seen. He did things no one had seen before.

Ronaldo's second season was affected by a knee injury. He missed most of the games. But he still scored 19 goals in 21 games. He scored four goals in a UEFA Cup game. With PSV, Ronaldo won the Dutch Cup in 1996. He was the top scorer in the Eredivisie in 1995. In two seasons, he scored 54 goals in 58 games.

Barcelona: A Phenomenal Season

Ronaldo scoring the winning penalty for Barcelona in the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final against Paris Saint-Germain

Both Inter Milan and Barcelona wanted Ronaldo. Barcelona paid a world record fee of $19.5 million. He joined the club on 17 July 1996. His manager, Bobby Robson, said Ronaldo signed an eight-year contract.

In the 1996–97 season, Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games. His goal celebration was always the same: arms outstretched like the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio. He helped Barcelona win the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He scored the winning goal in the final. He also helped them win the 1996 Supercopa de España. He was the top scorer in La Liga with 34 goals. He also won the European Golden Shoe.

Ronaldo was at his best physically at Barcelona. Many of his goals involved him dribbling around the goalkeeper. By January 1997, at 20, people said he would be the next great player. They compared him to Pelé and Diego Maradona. His teammate Óscar García said Ronaldo was a perfect athlete. His power and skills made him unstoppable. José Mourinho, who worked at Barcelona, called Ronaldo "the greatest player I have ever seen."

One of his most famous goals was against SD Compostela on 11 October 1996. He got the ball in his own half. He dribbled past several defenders and scored. His manager, Bobby Robson, was amazed. This goal was later used in a Nike ad. At the end of 1996, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win FIFA World Player of the Year.

Inter Milan: Injuries Begin

Ronaldo at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival

Ronaldo's time at Barcelona lasted only one season. There were problems with his contract. Inter Milan paid his buyout clause of $27 million. He joined Inter in the summer of 1997. This made him the second player, after Diego Maradona, to break the world transfer record twice. He signed a five-year contract.

In his first season, Ronaldo scored 25 Serie A goals. He was named Serie A Footballer of the Year. He also started to make assists and take free kicks. He won FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time. He also won the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo scored many goals against city rivals AC Milan. His duels with Gabriel Batistuta were very exciting. Ronaldo scored a famous goal against Lazio in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final. He dribbled past the goalkeeper without touching the ball, leaving him on the ground.

After the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo was seen as the best striker in the world. By the end of the 1998–99 season, he became Inter Milan captain.

However, after two seasons, Ronaldo started having serious injury problems. On 21 November 1999, he hurt his knee during a game. Doctors said he had a ruptured tendon and needed surgery. On 12 April 2000, he returned but got another severe knee injury. His physiotherapist said his kneecap "exploded."

Ronaldo missed all of the 2000–01 season. He also missed parts of the seasons before and after. He was out for almost three years. After two operations and recovery, Ronaldo came back for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He helped Brazil win the World Cup. Later in 2002, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the third time. He then moved from Inter to Real Madrid. While at Inter, the Italian press gave him his famous nickname, Il Fenomeno (The Phenomenon). Before his injuries, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 58 Serie A games. He played 99 games and scored 59 goals for Inter. In 2018, he was one of the first players inducted into the Inter Milan Hall of Fame.

Real Madrid: The Galácticos Era

Ronaldo won La Liga in his first season and received the Pichichi Trophy in his second.

Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid for €46 million. His jersey sales broke records on the first day. Ronaldo was part of the Galácticos team. This team had global stars like Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, and David Beckham. He was injured until October 2002, which made fans even more excited. Ronaldo scored two goals in his debut game. He scored his first goal just 61 seconds after coming on. He finished his first season with 23 league goals. This helped Real Madrid win the La Liga title in 2003. He also won an Intercontinental Cup and Supercopa de España in 2002 and 2003. He scored in both finals.

In the Champions League, Ronaldo scored three goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford. This knocked the English team out. He scored his third goal with a powerful shot from far away. He was substituted after 67 minutes. Both sets of fans gave him a standing ovation. Ronaldo said it was a "very beautiful, very special moment."

In the 2003–04 season, Real Madrid was trying to win three trophies. But Ronaldo got injured near the end of the season. They then lost the cup final and were knocked out of the Champions League. Ronaldo scored one of the fastest goals in the club's history. He scored after 15 seconds against Atlético Madrid. He also helped Real win against Barcelona at the Nou Camp for the first time in 20 years. He finished the season as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals. He won the Pichichi Trophy for the second time.

In his last two seasons at Real Madrid, Ronaldo missed games due to injuries and weight issues. He also fell out of favor with manager Fabio Capello. Capello called Ronaldo "the most difficult player to handle" but also "the best I coached."

Ronaldo scored over 100 goals in four and a half seasons at Real Madrid. He became the fifth foreign player to do so. Even though his speed was reduced by injuries, he was still a great player. Zidane said Ronaldo was the best player he ever played with. He said Ronaldo had an amazing ease with the ball.

AC Milan: Short Spell

Ronaldo's Inter Milan away jersey (left) and A.C. Milan away jersey (right) in the San Siro museum. He played for Inter from 1997 to 2002, and A.C. Milan from 2007 to 2008.

On 18 January 2007, Ronaldo agreed to join Milan for €8.05 million. He thanked everyone at Real Madrid except Capello. Capello said he wished Ronaldo the best. Ronaldo completed his medical tests and the transfer was done on 30 January. He wore the number 99 jersey. He made his debut on 11 February 2007. In his first start for Milan, he scored twice and assisted another goal. In his first season, Ronaldo scored seven goals in 14 games.

Ineligible to play having signed for the club mid season, Ronaldo (standing sixth from left) celebrated the 2007 UEFA Champions League triumph with his A.C. Milan teammates.

Ronaldo became one of the few players to play for both Inter Milan and AC Milan. He also scored for both teams in the Milan derby. He is also one of the few players to play for both Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, he never moved directly between rival clubs. Ronaldo played only a few games in his second season at Milan. This was due to more injuries and weight problems. His only goals in the 2007–08 season came in a 5–2 win against Napoli.

Ronaldo never won the UEFA Champions League in his career. He said it was a trophy he really wanted to win. In 2007, Milan won the Champions League. But Ronaldo could not play because he had already played for Real Madrid in the same competition that season. The closest he came was reaching the semi-finals with Real Madrid in 2003.

On 13 February 2008, Ronaldo suffered another severe knee injury. This happened while jumping for a cross. It was his third such injury to his kneecap ligament. His teammate Clarence Seedorf said it was like watching his injury from 2000 again. Milan released Ronaldo at the end of the season.

Corinthians: Back in Brazil

Ronaldo during his Corinthians unveiling in 2009, with Brazil president Lula handing him the jersey

Ronaldo trained with Flamengo while recovering from his knee surgery. But on 9 December, he signed a one-year deal with Flamengo's rival, Corinthians. This surprised many, as Ronaldo was a Flamengo fan. He explained that Corinthians was the only club that made him an offer.

Ronaldo played his first game for Corinthians on 4 March 2009. He scored his first goal on 8 March 2009. He scored eight goals in nine matches. Many people wanted him to return to the Brazil national team. He scored twice against Santos in the state championship final. His second goal was a chip over the goalkeeper from 30 yards. He helped Corinthians win the Campeonato Paulista with 10 goals in 14 games.

Ronaldo also scored in Corinthians' win over Internacional in the 2009 Copa do Brasil final. This helped the club win the trophy for the third time. He finished the 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A with 12 goals in 20 matches.

Retirement: A Difficult Decision

Ronaldo greets fans at the Emirates Stadium in London in March 2011, one month after announcing his retirement

In February 2010, Ronaldo signed a contract extension with Corinthians until the end of 2011. He said he would then retire. In February 2011, Corinthians was knocked out of a tournament. Ronaldo then announced his retirement from football. This ended his 18-year career.

In an emotional press conference on 14 February, he said pain and hypothyroidism were the reasons. Hypothyroidism is a condition that slows down metabolism and can cause weight gain. He found out he had it in 2007. He said he could treat it with hormones, but that was forbidden in football. However, some doctors disagreed.

Ronaldo admitted his body could no longer handle the injuries. "It's very hard to leave something that made me so happy," he said. "Mentally I wanted to continue but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body."

International Career: Brazil's Star Striker

Ronaldo (pictured with the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017) won the trophy with Brazil in 1997

Ronaldo played his first international game for Brazil on 23 March 1994. This was a friendly match against Argentina. His first goal for Brazil came on 4 May 1994 against Iceland. He went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States at age 17. He didn't play, but Brazil won the tournament. He was very happy about the experience. At that time, he was called Ronaldinho ("little Ronaldo"). This was to tell him apart from an older teammate also named Ronaldo.

Olympic Bronze and Copa América Wins

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ronaldo was again called Ronaldinho. Brazil won the bronze medal. Ronaldo also played for Brazil in the 1995 Copa América (where they finished second). He won both the 1997 and 1999 tournaments. He was named player of the tournament in 1997. He was the top scorer in 1999. He scored in both finals. He also played in the Tournoi de France in 1997. Ronaldo and Romário formed a strong attacking duo called the Ro-Ro attack. They helped Brazil win their first Confederations Cup title in 1997. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Australia in the final.

1998 FIFA World Cup: A Difficult Final

Ronaldo was seen as the world's best player before the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He scored four goals and made three assists on the way to the final. He scored twice against Chile and once against the Netherlands. Hours before the final against France, Ronaldo had a sudden health issue. He was first removed from the starting team. But he said he felt fine and wanted to play. So, Brazil's coach Mário Zagallo put him back in the lineup.

Stade de France (interior pictured), where Ronaldo performed in the 1998 World Cup Final despite suffering a convulsive fit six hours before kick off

Ronaldo was the last Brazilian player to come out for the game. He looked very serious during the national anthem. Brazil lost the final to France 3–0. Ronaldo later said, "We lost the World Cup but I won another cup – my life."

An investigation was started in Brazil. Doctors said Ronaldo should not have played. Despite his performance in the final, Ronaldo won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. This was for his amazing play before the final. Some people thought Nike, who sponsored Ronaldo and Brazil, forced him to play. But no evidence was found.

2002 FIFA World Cup: Redemption Story

Ronaldo pictured with an Israeli sports journalist on 29 June, the day before the 2002 World Cup Final

Before the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo had barely played due to his knee injury. He missed all of Brazil's qualifying games. But he made an amazing comeback. Ronaldo led Brazil to their record fifth World Cup title. He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer with eight goals. Many people called his triumph "redemption" for what happened in 1998. Ronaldo said he used to imagine holding the World Cup trophy. "It was a fabulous feeling actually to hold it in my hands and kiss it."

Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho formed a powerful attack called the "three R's." They were all named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. Ronaldo scored against every team except England. He scored the winning goal against Turkey in the semi-final. He used a "toe-poke" finish, which he learned from futsal. He also had a unique haircut to distract from his injury.

In the final against Germany, Ronaldo scored twice. Brazil won 2–0. He tied Pelé's record of 12 career World Cup goals for Brazil. Ronaldo was the first to comfort the German players after the game. He dedicated his third FIFA World Player of the Year award to the medical team that helped him recover.

2006 FIFA World Cup: Record Breaker

Ronaldo mural in Berlin promoting Brazilian Joga Bonito style of play. The work was commissioned by Nike prior to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

On 2 June 2004, Ronaldo scored three penalty goals against Argentina. This put Brazil at the top of their qualifying group. He was the top South American scorer in Brazil's qualifying campaign with 10 goals. Before the 2006 World Cup, people questioned his weight. But he was ready for Brazil's first match.

At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo was part of a famous "magic quartet" with Adriano, Ronaldinho, and Kaká. This team was promoted as masters of "Joga Bonito" (the beautiful game). Even though Brazil won their first two games, Ronaldo was criticized for being overweight. But coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept him in the starting team.

With two goals against Japan, Ronaldo became the 20th player to score in three World Cups. He also equaled Gerd Müller's record of 14 World Cup goals. He then broke Müller's record against Ghana by scoring his 15th World Cup goal. Brazil was knocked out by France in the quarter-finals. Ronaldo won the Bronze Shoe as the third-highest goal-scorer.

Ronaldo finished with 15 goals in 19 World Cup matches. His teammate Kaká said, "Ronaldo is the best player I have ever played with."

Farewell Match

Ronaldo playing in the Match Against Poverty in Bern, March 2014

In February 2011, it was announced that Ronaldo would play one last match for Brazil. This was a friendly game against Romania on 7 June 2011. It was five years after his last national team match.

Ronaldo played for 15 minutes. He had three shots on target. After the first half, Ronaldo gave a farewell speech to the crowd. With 62 goals for Brazil, Ronaldo retired as the second-highest goalscorer for his country at the time. He is now the third-highest scorer.

Ronaldo at the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia

Ronaldo often plays in charity matches with other football legends. He and Zinedine Zidane started the "Match Against Poverty" series in 2003. In January 2013, Ronaldo was named an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He is also a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He helps with causes around the world. In 2018, Ronaldo was part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow.

Style of Play and Legacy

Ronaldo is known as one of the greatest and most complete forwards ever. He was called Il (or O) Fenomeno (the phenomenon). He scored many goals and also helped his teammates score. He was very powerful, fast, and skilled. He had excellent movement and was a calm finisher. Ronaldo could use both feet well. He is considered one of the most skillful dribblers. He would often run with the ball from midfield towards the goal.

His coach at Barcelona, Bobby Robson, said Ronaldo could start from the halfway line and excite the whole stadium. He was the fastest player Robson had ever seen with the ball. Ronaldo often used fancy moves like the elastico and the step over to trick defenders and goalkeepers.

His Barcelona teammate Óscar García said he had never seen anyone play with such skill and speed. Ronaldinho called Ronaldo "the most complete striker there has ever been." Zlatan Ibrahimović agreed, saying, "There will never, in my view, be a better player than him." Lionel Messi said, "Ronaldo was the best striker I've ever seen. He was so fast he could score from nothing." Many famous strikers, like Karim Benzema and Sergio Agüero, were inspired by Ronaldo.

Ronaldo holding his ankle in 2010. The injury was the latest for a striker who suffered serious knee injuries which hampered his career in the 2000s.

Ronaldo changed what it means to be a center-forward. He showed that a striker could do everything: hold the ball, beat players, win headers, shoot from far, and drop deep. He influenced how the number 9 position is played.

Emilio Butragueño said Ronaldo could create a goal where there was none. Kaká said Ronaldo was the best at thinking and executing plays quickly. Ronaldo was also strong and could protect the ball. Former Italian defender Alessandro Nesta called facing Ronaldo "the worst experience of my career." Fabio Cannavaro said Ronaldo was the toughest opponent he ever faced.

Ronaldo's amazing talent made him the youngest FIFA World Player of the Year at 20. He was also the youngest Ballon d'Or winner at 21. José Mourinho said, "If we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo." In 2020, Ronaldo was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.

After 1999, Ronaldo's knee injuries and weight gain affected his speed and movement. His physiotherapist said Ronaldo had a condition that made his kneecap unstable. This, combined with his explosive running, made him prone to injuries. Even with these challenges, he was still considered the best player at the 2002 World Cup.

Club Ownership: After Playing

Real Valladolid

Ronaldo in 2018 as the president of Real Valladolid, his first club as owner

In September 2018, Ronaldo became the main owner of La Liga club Real Valladolid. He bought 51% of the club for €30 million. He said he wanted to build the best team and be transparent about how he managed the club.

Cruzeiro

In December 2021, Ronaldo bought a controlling share in his childhood club, Cruzeiro. He invested 400 million reais ($70 million). He said he wanted to "give back to Cruzeiro and take them where they deserve to be." On 30 April 2024, Ronaldo announced he would sell his ownership stake. But he would still be on the club's board of directors.

Outside Football: Life and Interests

Personal Life

Ronaldo during a 2005 meeting at the Brazilian Ministry of Education

In 1997, Ronaldo met model and actress Susana Werner. They lived together in Milan for a while. In December 1999, Ronaldo married Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues. Their son, Ronald, was born in 2000. They were married for four years. In 2005, Ronaldo was engaged to model Daniella Cicarelli. She became pregnant but had a miscarriage. Their relationship ended after three months.

A practicing Catholic, Ronaldo donated a signed football to Pope Francis. Accompanied with a signed Brazil jersey from Pelé, it is located in one of the Vatican Museums.

Ronaldo is very famous, but he likes to keep his private life secret. By 2003, he could speak Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian fluently. He also understood English well.

In 2008, Ronaldo married Maria Beatriz Antony. They had two daughters, Maria Sophia (born 2008) and Maria Alice (born 2010). In December 2010, Ronaldo took a paternity test. It confirmed he was the father of a boy named Alexander, born in 2005. Ronaldo and Maria Beatriz Antony divorced in 2012.

His former teammate Steve McManaman said Ronaldo had an amazing personality. He would invite many people to dinner, and everyone wanted to be with him.

Ronaldo with his Innovation in Sport Award at the Web Summit in 2019

Ronaldo was a co-owner of A1 Team Brazil. He also co-owns a sports marketing company called 9INE. He is a keen poker player. In 2013, he joined PokerStars SportStar. In 2014, he played a charity poker tournament against tennis star Rafael Nadal. In 2014, Ronaldo became a part-owner of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 2015, he opened eight new branches of his youth football school, the Ronaldo Academy. In 2017, Ronaldo's son, Ronald, played for Brazil in the 2017 Maccabiah Games.

In January 2023, Ronaldo announced his engagement to model Celina Locks. They married in July of the same year.

Religion

Ronaldo is a practicing Catholic. He was baptized in 2023. In 2014, he gave a signed football to Pope Francis. This ball is now in the Vatican Museums.

Media Appearances

Ronaldo appeared in The Simpsons episode "Marge Gamer" in 2007. He also had small roles in the Goal! film trilogy. Footage of Ronaldo is in the music video "We Are One (Ole Ola)", the official song of the 2014 World Cup.

Ronaldo has been in many commercials, like for Snickers and Pirelli. His famous goal celebration, with arms outstretched, was used in a Pirelli commercial in 1998. This ad was controversial with the Catholic Church. In 2000, the video game Ronaldo V-Football was released, endorsed by him. In 2017, Ronaldo was added as an icon to the Ultimate Team in EA Sports' FIFA 18 video game. He was also on the cover of the Icon edition.

In May 2021, DAZN released a series called Ronaldo: El Presidente. It shows his work as president of Real Valladolid.

Nike Sponsorship

Ronaldo has been sponsored by Nike since early in his career. In 1996, Nike signed him to a 10-year contract. He also has a lifetime endorsement deal worth over $180 million. Ronaldo is linked to the original Nike Mercurial R9 boots. These were designed for him for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2018, his R9 Mercurial boots inspired new Nike boots for Kylian Mbappé. A bronze statue of Ronaldo is at Nike headquarters in Oregon.

Ronaldo has appeared in many Nike commercials. In 1996, he starred in "Good vs Evil." He played with other football stars against demonic warriors. In 1998, he was in a Nike commercial set in an airport with the Brazil team. Before the 2002 World Cup, he starred in Nike's "Secret Tournament" commercial. In 2014, he was a mentor in Nike's animated "Risk Everything" commercial.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Notes

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.

Table key

	Goal scored by penalty

International goals by number, cap, date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Cap	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	2	4 May 1994	Estádio da Ressacada, Florianópolis, Brazil	Iceland	1–0	3–0	Friendly
2	8	11 June 1995	Wembley Stadium, London, England	England	2–1	3–1	Friendly
3	10	11 October 1995	Estádio de Pituaçu, Salvador, Brazil	Uruguay	1–0	2–0	Friendly
4					2–0
5	11	28 August 1996	Central Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Russia	Russia	2–2	2–2	Friendly
6	13	16 October 1996	Albertão, Teresina, Brazil	Lithuania	1–0	3–1	Friendly
7					2–1
8					3–1
9	14	18 December 1996	Vivaldão, Manaus, Brazil	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	1–0	Friendly
10	15	26 February 1997	Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiânia, Brazil	Poland	3–0	4–2	Friendly
11					4–0
12	16	2 April 1997	Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil	Chile	1–0	4–0	Friendly
13					3–0
14	20	8 June 1997	Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France	Italy	2–3	3–3	Friendly
15	22	13 June 1997	Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia	Costa Rica	3–0	5–0	1997 Copa América
16					4–0
17	25	22 June 1997	Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia	Paraguay	1–0	2–0	1997 Copa América
18					2–0
19	27	29 June 1997	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia	Bolivia	2–1	3–1	1997 Copa América
20	28	10 August 1997	Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	South Korea	1–1	2–1	Friendly
21	33	19 December 1997	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Czech Republic	2–0	2–0	1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
22	34	21 December 1997	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Australia	1–0	6–0	1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
23					2–0
24					5–0
25	35	25 March 1998	Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, Germany	Germany	2–1	2–1	Friendly
26	39	16 June 1998	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France	Morocco	1–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup
27	41	27 June 1998	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	Chile	3–0	4–1	1998 FIFA World Cup
28					4–1
29	43	7 July 1998	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	Netherlands	1–0	1–1 (4–2 p)	1998 FIFA World Cup
30	45	26 June 1999	Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil	Latvia	3–0	3–0	Friendly
31	46	30 June 1999	Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Venezuela	1–0	7–0	1999 Copa América
32					4–0
33	48	6 July 1999	Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Chile	1–0	1–0	1999 Copa América
34	49	11 July 1999	Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Argentina	2–1	2–1	1999 Copa América
35	51	18 July 1999	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	Uruguay	3–0	3–0	1999 Copa América
36	53	7 September 1999	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Argentina	4–1	4–2	Friendly
37	57	25 May 2002	Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Malaysia	1–0	4–0	Friendly
38	58	3 June 2002	Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea	Turkey	1–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup
39	59	8 June 2002	Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, South Korea	China	4–0	4–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
40	60	13 June 2002	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	Costa Rica	1–0	5–2	2002 FIFA World Cup
41					2–0
42	61	17 June 2002	Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan	Belgium	2–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
43	63	26 June 2002	Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan	Turkey	1–0	1–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
44	64	30 June 2002	Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Japan	Germany	1–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
45					2–0
46	66	20 November 2002	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	South Korea	1–1	3–2	Friendly
47					2–2
48	70	7 September 2003	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia	Colombia	1–0	2–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
49	74	18 November 2003	Pinheirão, Curitiba, Brazil	Uruguay	2–1	3–3	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
50					3–3
51	78	2 June 2004	Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil	Argentina	1–0	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
52					2–0
53					3–1
54	81	5 September 2004	Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil	Bolivia	1–0	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
55	83	9 October 2004	Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela	Venezuela	3–0	5–2	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
56					4–0
57	90	12 October 2005	Estádio Olímpico do Pará, Pará, Brazil	Venezuela	2–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
58	91	1 March 2006	RZD Arena, Moscow, Russia	Russia	1–0	1–1	Friendly
59	92	4 June 2006	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	New Zealand	1–0	4–0	Friendly
60	95	22 June 2006	Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany	Japan	1–1	4–1	2006 FIFA World Cup
61					4–1
62	96	27 June 2006	Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany	Ghana	1–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 1994

PSV Eindhoven

• KNVB Cup: 1995–96

Barcelona

• Copa del Rey: 1996–97
• Supercopa de España: 1996
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97

Inter Milan

• UEFA Cup: 1997–98
• Coppa Italia runner-up: 1999–2000

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2002–03
• Supercopa de España: 2003
• Intercontinental Cup: 2002

Corinthians

• Campeonato Paulista: 2009
• Copa do Brasil: 2009

Brazil U23

• Olympic Bronze Medal: 1996

Brazil

• FIFA World Cup: 1994, 2002; runner-up: 1998
• Copa América: 1997, 1999; runner-up: 1995
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997

Ronaldo's Golden Foot award in "The Champions Promenade" on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco

Individual

• Supercopa Libertadores top scorer: 1993–94
• Supercopa Libertadores Team of the Year: 1993–94
• Campeonato Mineiro top scorer: 1993–94
• Campeonato Mineiro Team of the Year: 1994
• Eredivisie top scorer: 1994–95
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1996, 1997, 2002
• Trofeo EFE La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year: 1996–97, 2002–03
• Pichichi Trophy: 1996–97, 2003–04
• European Golden Shoe: 1996–97
• World Soccer magazine World Player of the Year (3): 1996, 1997, 2002
• Don Balón Award La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 1996–97
• Copa América Final Most Valuable Player: 1997
• Copa América Most Valuable Player: 1997
• FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze Boot: 1997
• FIFA Confederations Cup All-Star Team: 1997
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 1997
• Copa América All-Star Team: 1997, 1999
• IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year: 1997
• Bravo Award: 1997, 1998
• Onze d'Or: 1997, 2002
• Ballon d'Or: 1997, 2002; runner-up: 1996
• European Sports Media ESM Team of the Year: 1996–97, 1997–98
• FIFA XI: 1997, 1998
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 1998
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 1998
• UEFA Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 1998
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 1997–98
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 1997–98
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998, 2002
• FIFA World Cup top assist provider: 1998
• Inter Milan Player of the Year: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2002
• FIFA World Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 2002
• Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player: 2002
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002
• BBC World Sport Star of the Year: 2002
• Laureus World Sports Awards Comeback of the Year: 2003
• Best Male Soccer Player ESPY Award: 2003
• FIFA 100 (2004)
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 2006
• Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame: 2006
• Golden Foot award: 2006
• France Football magazine's all-time starting XI: 2007
• Association of Football Statisticians (AFS) Top-100 Players of All Time: 2007. #2
• Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade: 2009
• Real Madrid Hall of Fame
• Marca Leyenda: 2011
• L'Équipe's top 50 South-American footballers in history: #5
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015
• International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Legends
• Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2018
• Globe Soccer Awards Player Career Award: 2018
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
• IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team: 2021

See also

In Spanish: Ronaldo para niños

• List of most expensive association football transfers
• List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals