Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima or famously known as Ronaldo is a retired Brazilian football player who played as a striker for Brazilian national team. He also played for several top European football clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid as well as AC Milan.
The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996,1997,2002, Ronaldo made his senior international debut for Brazil in 1994 before retiring in 2011. He represented Brazil in Copa America 1995,1997 and 1999, 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and played at the FIFA World Cup in 1994,1998, 2002 and 2006.
Ronaldo won the Golden Ball for being the best player in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was instrumental in winning the World Cup 2002 for Brazil by scoring the highest goal in the tournament and receiving the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo was born to father, Nelio Nazario de Lima Snr, and mother, Sonia dos Santos Barata on 18 September 1976 in Rio de Janerio. Born in a poor family background, he was the third child of his parents.
His parents separated when he was only 11 after which he had to quit his school. He was attracted to playing football and took it as a career to finance his living.
He played his junior playing career with the Brazilan football club, Sao Cristovao in 1990 until 1993.
He is famous for his endorsement deal with sports company Nike. He signed a lucrative contract with Nike in 1996 for 10 years which fetch him over $ 180 million. The star striker was linked with original Nike Mercurial R9 that was designed especially for him in 1998 FIFA World cup.
He has appeared in several Nike Commercial with players such as Thierry Henry, Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti to name a few.
His salary during his playing career was reported to be around $15,000,000.
Looking at his illustrious career and according to several reports, he is estimated to have a net worth in the range of $ 150 million. Besides, he owns 45% share of the 9ine Sports and Entertainment agency.
Ronaldo is also the co-owner A1 Team Brazil with Emerson Fittipaldi and also co-owns marketing company alomg with Anderson Silva as well as was the minority owner of North American Soccer club, Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2014.
He is also appointed in 2000 by United Nations Development Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador.
Ronaldo owns a luxurious house in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has some of the expensive cars like Ferrar, Audi A8 etc.
Ronaldo made his senior career with the Brazilian club, Cruzeiro in 1993 and made his debut against Caldense on 25 May 1993. He was the part of the team that won the Copa do Brasil in 1993 and later signed with Dutch football club, PSV Eindhoven in 1994 and helped the team to win the Dutch Cup in 1996.
He then moved to Spain and signed with Spanish La Liga club, Barcelona for a record then transfer fee of $ 19.5 million in 1996.
Ronaldo won the UEFA Cup Winner Cup in 1997 with Barcelona and moved to Italian Serie A club, Inter Milan for then record transfer fee of $ 27 million in the summer of 1997.
The Brazilian striker went on to win the UEFA Cup in 1998 with the club.
He then signed with Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid for a fee of €46 million in 2002 and played along star-studded Madrid side that included legends like Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul as well as Roberto Carlos.
Ronaldo was the prominent player in the team and helped Real Madrid to win the Intercontinental Cup in 2002. He signed with Italian Serie A club, AC Milan for a transfer fee of around €8.05 million in early 2007 and made his debut when he came as a substitute against Livorno on 11 February 2007.
Ronaldo played with the fellow Brazilian player, Kaka during his run with Inter Milan which ended in 2008.
He signed with Brazilian football club, Corinthians in 2009 and made his debut against Itumbiara on 4 March 2009 as well as scoring his first goal against Palmeiras on 8 March 2009.
He made his international debut for Brazil against Argentina in 1994 and was the part of the Brazilian Squad that went on the win the FIFA World Cup in USA IN 1994. The striker was able to win the bronze medal with the Brazilian football team at the 1996 Summer Olympic at Atlanta.
With the Brazilian team, he went on to win 1997,1999 Copa America and1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Ronaldo was the major player along with players such as Rivaldo and Ronaldinho that helped Brazil to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
He scored 15 goals in the World Cup which is a record in the World Cup history which was later surpassed by German Striker, Miroslav Klose in 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Overall, he made 98 appearances and scored 62 goals for Brazil until his retirement in 2011.
Ronaldo previously dated Brazilian model, Susana Werner from 1997 to 1999 and married fellow Brazilain football player, Milene Domingues who gave birth to his first child son, Ronald born on 6 April 2000.
Their marriage lasted only 4 years, Ronaldo later got engaged and married Brazilian model and TV celebrity, Daniela Cicarelli. The couple lost their baby due to miscarriage. His marriage expense with Ciccarelli was estimated to be around €896,000 at Chateau de Chantilly and their relationship only lasted for three months.
For a brief period of time, he dated a supermodel, Raica Oliveira, but later got engaged to Maria Beatriz Antony in 2007. The couple separated briefly after Ronaldo ’s scandal with three transvestites incidents but they reconcile later on and got married.
They have a daughter, Maria Sophia born in December 2008.
He was also found to be the father of a boy named Alexander born in 2005 from a woman named Michele Umezu whom he met in Tokyo in 2002.
