Ronaldo Nazário

Brazilian striker widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, known for his pace, skill and clinical finishing ability.

Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima was born in Bento Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro in 1976 and grew up in poverty in the favelas. He was identified as a generational talent at 16. His Barcelona season in 1996-97 produced 47 goals — considered one of the finest individual seasons in La Liga history. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1997 and 2002. His World Cup record — 62 international goals including 15 in World Cups — established him as Brazil's all-time leading scorer. The night before the 1998 World Cup Final he suffered a mysterious seizure — his appearance in that final despite the episode is one of football's most discussed medical mysteries, as Brazil lost 3-0 to France. He won the World Cup in 2002 — scoring twice in the final against Germany, including two goals from outside the area and one from the spot — redemption for 1998 and the peak of his career. His combination of raw pace, strength and finishing ability at his peak — before the knee injuries that effectively ended his explosive running in 2001 and slowed him thereafter — was described by contemporaries as genuinely unlike anything they had seen.

Explosive pace, exceptional dribbling, clinical finishing, and ability to score from any position

Revolutionized the striker position with his explosive pace and technical ability

• World Cup 2x (1994,2002)
• Ballon d'Or 2x (1997,2002)
• Champions League (1998)
• Copa América 2x
• FIFA World Cup 1994
• FIFA World Cup 2002
• Copa América 1997
• Copa América 1999
• UEFA Cup 1998
• La Liga 1996-97
• Serie A 1997-98

Club Career

Club	Period	Apps	Goals	Shirt
Cruzeiro	1993–1994	14	185	#9
Barcelona	1996–1997	49	47	—
Inter Milan	1997–2002	99	59	—
Real Madrid	2002–2007	177	104	—
AC Milan	2007–2008	20	9	—
Corinthians	2009–2011	31	18	—
PSV	1994–1996	57	55	—
Brazil	—	98	62	—