Alfredo Di Stefano:

[tub]bCAlqBamBjs[/tub]

Argentina:
Copa América: 1947

River Plate:
Primera División: 1945, 1947

Millonarios:
Colombian Championship: 1949, 1951, 1952
Copa Colombia: 1953
Pequeña Copa del Mundo de Clubes: 1953

Real Madrid:
Intercontinental Cup: 1960
UEFA Champions League (5): 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60
Primera División (8): 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
Copa del Rey: 1962
Individual honours
Argentine Primera División top scorer: 1947
Campeonato Profesional top scorer: 1951, 1952
Pichichi Trophy: 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
Ballon d'Or: 1957, 1959
Super Ballon d'Or, by France Football: 1989
European Cup top scorer: 1958, 1962
Spanish Player (Athlete) of the Year: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964
FIFA Order of Merit: 1994
World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
FIFA 100: 2004
UEFA Jubilee Awards – Golden Player of Spain: 2004
Golden Foot: 2004, as football legend
World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013

 

Pele:

[tub]Bg2vqLyYsvc[/tub]

Brazil:
FIFA World Cup (3): 1958, 1962, 1970
Roca Cup (2): 1957, 1963
Cruz Cup (3): 1958, 1962, 1968
Bernardo O'Higgins Cup (1): 1959
Atlantic Cup (1): 1960
Oswaldo Cruz Cup (3): 1958, 1962, 1968

Santos:
Copa Libertadores (2): 1962, 1963
Intercontinental Cup (2): 1962, 1963
Intercontinental Supercup (1): 1968
Supercopa de Campeones Intercontinentales (1): 1968
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (6): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968
Torneio Rio-São Paulo (4): 1959, 1963, 1964, 1966
Campeonato Paulista (10): 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973

New York Cosmos:
North American Soccer League, Soccer Bowl (1): 1977
North American Soccer League, Atlantic Conference Championship (1): 1977

Individual:
Santos
Copa Libertadores Top Scorer (1): 1965
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top Scorer (3): 1961, 1963, 1964
Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer (11): 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1973
Torneio Rio-São Paulo Top Scorer (1): 1963
FIFA World Cup Best Young Player (1): 1958
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player) (1): 1970
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball (1): 1958
FIFA World Cup Silver Boot (1): 1958
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1958, 1970
FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
Copa America Best Player (1): 1959
Copa América Top Scorer (1): 1959
FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur: 2013
FIFA Player of the Century: 2000
FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
FIFA Centennial Award: 2004
Bola de Prata: 1970
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality: 1970
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award: 2005
Greatest football player to have ever played the game, by Golden Foot: 2012
Athlete of the Century, by Reuters News Agency: 1999
Athlete of the Century, elected by International Olympic Committee: 1999
Athlete of the Century, elected by world wide journalists, poll by French daily L'Equipe: 1981
South American Footballer of the Year (1): 1973
Silver ball South American Footballer of the Year (1): 1972
South America Football Player of the Century, by IFFHS International Federation of Football History and Statistics: 1999
Football Player of the Century, by IFFHS International Federation of Football History and Statistics: 1999
Football Player of the Century, elected by France Football's Ballon d'Or Winners : 1999
UNICEF Football Player of the Century: 1999
Inducted into the American National Soccer Hall of Fame: 1993
Laureus World Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from South African President Nelson Mandela: 2000
World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
World Soccer The Greatest Players of the 20th century: 1999
World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013
L'Équipe's top 50 South-American footballers in history: #1
Honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh celebrating Pelé’s "significant contribution to humanitarian and environmental causes, as well as his sporting achievements": 2012
Prize from the French Academy of Sports, Award given to a player of a team sport for the very first time: 1971
Red Medal of Paris, Given by the City Hall of the French Capital: 1971
TIME One of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th century: 1999
DPR Korea issued a postage stamp depicting Pelé: 1989
FIFA World Cup's top 100 footballers of all time, by The Guardian: #1
FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
In December 2000, Pelé and Maradona shared the prize of FIFA Player of the Century by FIFA. The award was originally intended to be based upon votes in a web poll, but after it became apparent that it favoured Diego Maradona, many observers complained that the Internet nature of the poll would have meant a skewed demographic of younger fans who would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé. FIFA then appointed a "Family of Football" committee of FIFA members to decide the winner of the award together with the votes of the readers of the FIFA Magazine. The committee chose Pelé. Since Maradona was winning the Internet poll, however, it was decided he and Pelé should share the award.

Orders:
Knight of the Order of Rio Branco: 1967
Commander of the Order of Rio Branco: 1969
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary: 1994
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire: 1997

 

Johan Cruyff:

[tub]-Plese2FhlU[/tub]

Netherlands:
FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1974
UEFA European Championship Third Place: 1976

Ajax:
Eredivisie: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1981–82, 1982–83
KNVB Cup: 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1982–83
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1968
European Cup: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73
UEFA Super Cup: 1972
Intercontinental Cup: 1972

Barcelona:
La Liga: 1973–74
Copa del Rey: 1977–78

Feyenoord:
Eredivisie: 1983–84
KNVB Cup: 1983–84

Individual:
Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1968, 1972, 1984
Ballon d'Or: 1971, 1973, 1974
Dutch Sportsman of the Year: 1973, 1974
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1974
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1974
Don Balón Award: 1977, 1978
North American Soccer League MVP: 1979
FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
World Team of the 20th Century
FIFA 100
World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time: 2013

 

Maradona:

[tub]DBAqGhqZq_M[/tub]

Argentina:
FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979
75th anniversary FIFA Cup: 1979
FIFA World Cup: 1986[179]
Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1993
South American Youth Championship Runner-up: 1979
FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1990

Boca Juniors:
Argentine Primera División: 1981 Metropolitano

Spain Barcelona:
Copa del Rey: 1983
Copa de la Liga: 1983
Supercopa de España: 1983

Napoli:
Serie A (2): 1986-87, 1989-90
Coppa Italia: 1986-87
UEFA Cup: 1988-89
Supercoppa Italiana: 1990

Individual:
Argentine Primera División top scorers (5): 1978 Metropolitano, 1979 Metropolitano, 1979 Nacional, 1980 Metropolitano, 1980 Nacional
FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball: 1979
FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Shoe: 1979
World Player of the Year (Guerin Sportivo): 1979
Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year (4): 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986
South American Footballer of the Year (2): (official award) 1979, 1980
Olimpia de Oro (2): 1979, 1986
Guerin d'Oro (Serie A Footballer of the Year): 1985
Onze de Bronze (2): 1985, 1988
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1986
FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 1986
FIFA World Cup Most Assists: 1986
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (2): 1986, 1990
Onze d'Or (2): 1986, 1987
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986
L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 1986
United Press International Athlete of the Year Award: 1986
World Soccer Awards Player of the Year: 1986
South American Player of the Year (4): (unofficial award) 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer): 1987–88
Coppa Italia top scorer: 1987-88
FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1990
Onze d'Or (top player of the year for the Onze Mondial French newspaper): 1994
FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
South American Team of the Year: 1995
Ballon d'Or for services to football (France Football): 1996
World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
World Soccer The Greatest Players of the 20th century: (#2) 1999
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999
Marca Leyenda: 1999
Number 10 retired by Napoli football team as a recognition to his contribution to the club: 2000
FIFA Player of the Century: 2000
FIFA Goal of the Century (for his second goal against England in 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final): 2002
FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
Golden Foot: 2003, as football legend
FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
Argentine Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement: 2005
World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013
Napoli all-time Top Scorer
L'Équipe's top 50 South-American footballers in history: #2

 

Messi:

[tub]Q-3CNcNzlgs[/tub]

Argentina:
FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 2014
Copa América Runner-up: 2007, 2015
South American Youth Championship Third place: 2005

Barcelona:
La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15
Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15
Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011

Individual:
Ballon d'Or: 2009
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2010, 2011, 2012
FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball: 2005
FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Boot: 2005
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament: 2014
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
IFFHS World's Best Top Goalscorer: 2011, 2012
IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goalscorer: 2012, 2013
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
World Soccer World Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012
World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time (published 2013)
Marca Legend Award: 2009
L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 2011
La Gazzetta dello Sport Sportsman of the Year: 2011
Sports Illustrated #1 All-time Ultimate Soccer Draft (published 2012)
ESPY Award for Best International Athlete: 2012, 2015
European Golden Shoe: 2010, 2012, 2013
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2009
UEFA Club Football Award for Best Forward: 2009
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2011, 2015
UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
UEFA Goal of the Year: 2007
UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15
UEFA Champions League Goal of the Season: 2014–15
UEFA Champions League Genius Moment of the Season: 2014–15
ESM Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Golden Boy: 2005
Bravo Award: 2007
Onze d'Or: 2009, 2011, 2012
El País Best Player in Europe: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
South American Youth Championship Silver Boot: 2005
Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007
Copa América Most Valuable Player: 2015 (rejected)
Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2011, 2015
Olimpia de Plata Argentine Footballer of the Year Award: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Olimpia de Oro Argentine Sportsperson of the Year Award: 2011
L'Équipe #3 Top 50 South-American Footballers in History (published 2015)
Pichichi Trophy: 2010, 2012, 2013
LFP Award for Best Player: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
LFP Award for Best Forward: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
LPF Team of the Season: 2014–15
Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2009, 2010, 2011
Trofeo EFE for Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Don Balón Award for Best Foreign Player: 2007, 2009, 2010
Don Balón Team of the Decade (published 2010)

Achievements
La Liga top goalscorer: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13
La Liga top assist provider: 2010–11, 2014–15
Copa del Rey top goalscorer: 2010–11, 2013–14
Copa del Rey top assist provider: 2014–15
UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2011–12, 2014–15
FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer: 2011
FIFA World Youth Championship top goalscorer: 2005
Copa América top assist provider: 2011, 2015

Records
Most Ballons d'Or: 4 (2009–12)
Most consecutive Ballons d'Or: 4 (2009–12)
Youngest two-time and three-time Ballon d'Or winner: 23 and 24 years
Most appearances as a Ballon d'Or finalist: 8 (2007–14)
Most appearances in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 8 (2007–14, shared with Cristiano Ronaldo)
Most FIFA Club World Cup Golden Balls: 2 (2009, 2011)
Most FIFA Club World Cup Finals Man of the Match awards: (2009, 2011)
Most Man of the Match awards in one FIFA World Cup: 4 (2014)
Top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012 (Guinness World Records title)
Top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year including club friendlies: 96 goals in 2012
Top goalscorer for club and country in International competitions in a calendar year: 25 goals in 2012 (shared with Vivian Woodward and Cristiano Ronaldo)
Longest goalscoring run in a league season: 33 goals in 21 matches in 2012–13
Only player to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league: 2012–13
Only player to both score and assist in all 6 club competitions in a calendar year: 2011
Most UEFA Best Player in Europe Awards: 2 (2011, 2015)
Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a season: 73 goals in 2011–12
Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year: 79 goals in 2012
Top goalscorer in UEFA Super Cup: 3 goals (shared with Arie Haan, Oleg Blokhin, Gerd Müller, Rob Rensenbrink, François Van der Elst, Terry McDermott and Radamel Falcao)
Only player to be top goalscorer in five UEFA Champions League seasons: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Only player to be top goalscorer in four consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
Most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League: 5
Most goals scored in a UEFA Champions League match: 5 goals (Guinness World Records title, shared with Luiz Adriano)
Most goals scored against the same opposition team in UEFA Champions League: 8 goals vs AC Milan (shared with Luiz Adriano vs BATE Borisov)
Most cities scored in UEFA Champions League: 23
Most countries scored in UEFA Champions League: 16
Youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League: 28 years and 2 months in September 2015
Top goalscorer for Argentina in a calendar year: 12 goals in 2012 (shared with Gabriel Batistuta)
Top goalscorer for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign: 10 goals for 2014
Top goalscorer for Argentina in friendly matches: 27 goals
Top goalscorer for Argentina in U-20 competitions: 11 goals (shared with Javier Saviola)
All-time top goalscorer for Argentina U-20: 14 goals (6 in Youth World Championship, 5 in South American Championship, 3 in friendlies)
Youngest player to play for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: 18 years, 357 days in 2006
Youngest player to score for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup: 18 years, 357 days in 2006
Youngest player to reach 100 caps in CONMEBOL history: 27 years, 361 days in 2015
Youngest player to captain Argentina in a FIFA World Cup match: 22 years and 363 days in 2010
Most Man of the Match Awards in FIFA World Cup: 5 (1 in 2010 and 4 in 2014)
Most Man of the Match Awards in Copa América: 6 (2 in 2011 and 4 in 2015)
Top goalscorer in La Liga: 289 goals (Guinness World Records title)
Top assists provider in La Liga: 114 assists
Top goalscorer in a La Liga season: 50 goals in 2011–12 (Guinness World Records title)
Top goalscorer in home matches in a La Liga season: 35 goals in 19 matches in 2011–12
Top goalscorer in away matches in a La Liga season: 24 goals in 19 matches in 2012–13
Top goalscorer in Supercopa de España: 11 goals
Only player to score in five Supercopa de España editions: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Top goalscorer in El Clásico: 21 goals
Top goalscorer in Derbi barceloní: 13 goals
Top assists provider in El Clásico: 13 assists
Most hat-tricks in El Clásico: 2
Most hat-tricks scored in a La Liga season: 8 in 2011–12 (shared with Cristiano Ronaldo)
Most braces scored in La Liga: 84
Only player to score consecutively against all opposition teams in La Liga: 30 goals in 19 matches in 2012–13
Youngest player to reach the milestone of 200 La Liga goals: 25 years in 2013
Only player to score at least 40 goals in 6 consecutive seasons: from 2009–10 to 2014–15
Top goalscorer in official competitions: 418 goals
Top goalscorer overall (including friendlies): 448 goals
Top goalscorer in International club competitions: 84 goals
Top goalscorer in European club competitions: 80 goals
Top goalscorer in UEFA Champions League: 77 goals
Top goalscorer in FIFA Club World Cup: 4 goals
Top goalscorer in UEFA Super Cup: 3 goals
Top goalscorer in La Liga: 289 goals
Top goalscorer in Supercopa de España: 11 goals
Top goalscorer in El Clásico: 21 goals
Top goalscorer in Derbi Barceloni: 13 goals
Most goals scored at the halfway of La Liga: 22 goals (shared with César Rodríguez)
Most hat-tricks scored overall: 32
Most hat-tricks scored in La Liga: 24
Most hat-tricks scored in El Clásico: 2
Most Pichichi Trophies: 3 (2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13)
Top assists provider in La Liga: 114 assists
Top assists provider in El Clásico: 13 assists
Only player to both score and assist in all 6 club competitions in a calendar year: 2011
Only player to be the leading goalscorer and leading assists provider in the same La Liga season: 2011–12
Most Barcelona Player of the Year awards (Aldo Rovira Award): 4 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Most Major titles won: 25 (shared with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta)

 

How come the player of the 90s is being reduce to 2nd Tier level?

because injuries fcked him up

these 5 Kings seem legit...good choices.

 

1 or even 2 of them are Olympians.

 

So this guy's resume doesn't count?

 

Ronaldo:

[tub]vVuyoocwEzE[/tub]

Brazil:
COMMEBOL Sub-16: 1991
South American Championship U-19: 1993
UMBRO Cup:1995
World Cup: 1994, 2002
World Cup Runner-up: 1998
Copa America: 1997, 1999
Copa America Runner-up: 1995
Confederations Cup: 1997
Olympic Bronze Medal: 1996

São Cristóvão:
Taça Divisões de Base São Cristóvão: 1991
South American Cadet Championship: 1992
Minas Gerais State League: 1993

Cruzeiro:
Copa do Brasil: 1993
Campeonato Mineiro: 1994

PSV:
KNVB Cup: 1996
Johan Cruijff-schaal: 1996

Barcelona:
Supercopa de España: 1996
Copa Del Rey: 1997
Cup Winners Cup: 1997
Trofeo Joan Gamper: 1996

Inter Milan:
UEFA Cup: 1998
Tim Trophy: 2002
Trofeo Birra Moretti Cup: 2001, 2002

Real Madrid:
La Liga: 2003, 2007
Supercopa de España: 2003
Intercontinental Cup: 2002
Santiago Bernabéu Trophy: 2003, 2005, 2006
Naranja Cup of Valencia: 2003
Memorial Jesús Gil Trophy: 2005
Xango Cup: 2006

Milan:
Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi: 2007
UEFA Super Cup: Milan 2007
FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

Corinthians:
Taça dos Invictos: 2009 Corinthians (oferecida pela Federação Paulista de Futebol)
Campeão Paulista: 2009
Copa do Brasil: 2009

Individual:
Ballon D' Or: 1997, 2002
FIFA Player of the year: 1996, 1997, 2002
Player of the year "World Soccer Award": 1996, 1997, 2002
Onze D' Or: 1997, 2002
MVP of the Intercontinental Final: 2002
UEFA European Player of the Year: 1998
UEFA Best Striker of the Year:1998
UEFA Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 1998
IFFHS' World' S Signal Goal Scorer of the Year: 1997
Rec.sport.soccer Player of the Year Award: 1996, 1997, 2002
Better hope evolving/moving in Europe "The Award Cheer/The Bravo Awards": 1997, 1998
Copa América Final Most Valuable Player: 1997
European golden shoe: 1997 (34 goals)
Supercopa Libertadores Top Scorer: 1994
Supercopa Libertadores Team of The Year: 1994
Rey del Fútbol de Europa (newspaper El País): 1996, 1997
Best foreign player of the championship of Spain: 1997, 2003
Top Scorer of the championship of the Netherlands: 1995
Top Scorer of the championship of Spain: 1997, 2004
Italian League Player of the Year: 1998
Italian League Foreign Player of the Year: 1998
Super Copa Top scorer: 1994
Campeonato Mineiro Top Scorer: 1994 (22 goals)
Campeonato Mineiro Team of The Year: 1994
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball/MVP: 1998
Top Scorer of WC: 2002 (8 goals)
Top Scorer of Copa America: 1999 (5 goals)
Best Player of the Copa America: 1997
Nike Statue in honor of Ronaldo outside their headquarters: 1998
World Sports Awards "Lareus" (2): 2003 (2 separate trophies)
'Personalidad Extranjera del Año' de la BBC/ BBC's Foreign Personality of the Year: 2002
European Sports Media ESM Team of the Year: 1997, 1998
FIFA XI: 1997, 1998
Top sportsman of the year "Reuters Magazine": 2002
Gran Premio de la Academia Francesa de los Deportes: 2002 (Ronaldo became the only second footballer to win this award the first one was PELE in 1970)
UEFA Team of the Year: 2002
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998, 2002
FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver award: 1998
FIFA World Player of the Year – Bronze award: 2003
FIFA 100 (2004)
FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 2006
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2002
FIFA World Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 2002
el premio Príncipe de Asturias de los Deportes concedido a la selección de Brasil en pleno: 2002 (For the first time, this award was given to a FOOTBALL Team "The Brazilian National team of 2002")
Best Male Soccer Player of the Year ESPY Award: 2003
El Trofeo Comunidad Iberoamericana, uno de los Premios Nacionales del Deporte: 2004
G.Q. Magazine Man of the Year Award: 2004
Premio Gredos: 2005
Top Scorer of South American WC Qualifiers: 10 goals
La Liga's All-Time Brazilian Top Scorer (117) goals (115 was the record).
el Premio Brasil 2005 en la categoría Deporte y Cultura que ha concedido la Cámara de Comercio Brasil-España: 2005
elegido el hombre más elegante de Brasil, según la revista "Istoé Gente": 2005
receives the Number 1 Volunteer Diploma from Luis Fernando Hernandes, president of Brazil's Red Cross, during a ceremony at the Red Cross headquarters in Rio de Janeiro: 2005
World Cup Bronze Shoe: 2006
All-Time South American WC Top Scorer
All-Time WC Top Scorer 15 goals (Held the record for 12 years)
2nd All-Time Brazilian Top Scorer (62 goals)
Golden Foot: 2006
France Football (magazine): Starting eleven of all time (2007)
Real Madrid Team of the century
Campeonato Sudamericano sub-17 Top Scorer: 1993 (8 goals)
Oscar del calcio AIC 2007 - Campione dei campioni Award: 2007 (Serie A Player of the Decade: 1997–2007)
Premio Gianni Brera 2007 - AC MILAN Deportivo del año: 2007
Il Pirata d'Oro Inter Milan: 1998
Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame : 2008 (Inducted into the Brazilian Hall of Fame)
FES Key to the City Award Ronaldo’s Friends vs Zidane’s Friends: 2008
O prêmio de craque do Campeonato Paulista: 2009
I.R.E.O (Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization) IREO Renewable Energy Award: 2009 (IREO Renewable Energy Award is a global awards program designed to recognize those at the forefront of energy innovation)
O Fenômeno recebeu uma placa do presidente do Cruzeiro, Zezé Perrella & Colocou os pés na calçada da fama do Mineirão: 2009
Minutos antes do jogo entre Avaí e Corinthians (Atacante do Corinthians é homenageado pela diretoria do clube catarinense no estádio onde marcou o seu primeiro gol pela seleção), em Florianópolis, o atacante Ronaldo deixou a marca dos seus pés na calçada da fama da Ressacada : 2009
'Brasileiro do Ano': 2009 (Jogador recebe prêmio de 'Brasileiro do Ano')
Goal.com - Striker of the decade award: 2010
Goal.com - Player of the decade award: 2010
Escolhido como 'craque superação' pela entidade Assembleia Legislativa de São Paulo: 2010
Título de cidadão paulistano da Câmara Municipal/Title of citizen of São Paulo City Hall: 2010
Medalha do Mérito Esportivo: 2011
Marca Leyenda: 2011
Machimbarrena y Aranguren Statue: 2011
CBF Ceremony Homage /Golden Watch in honor of his legacy: 2011
2 Golden Shoes Nike Homage/Replica of First and Last (Mercurial Style) football shoe he wore as a professional: 2011
Ronaldo foi nomeado patrono do Centro Olimpico de Treinamento e Pesquisa de Sao Paulo: 2011
Ronaldo - Recebeu Certificado do Membro Voluntario do Amigo do Esporte (AME) no Centro Olimpico: 2011
Ronaldo Fenômeno é homenageado pelo Corinthians com pintura no muro do CT: 2012
Prêmio João Havelange de Excelência e Legado: 2012
Homenageado, Ronaldo recebe camisa 9 do PSG & Award in recognition of his career: 2013
Strogaldo De Legendary Award: 2002
La Cámara Oficial Española de Comercio en Brasil premió hoy al exfutbolista Ronaldo Nazário de Lima, como personalidad del año: 2014
Goal.com 2014 Hall of Fame Entrant: 2014
2015 ASPIRE AWARD: Doha 2015
World Soccer (magazine): The Greatest Players of the 20th Century (Published December 1999) #13
L'Équipe's top 50 South-American footballers in history: #5
Youngest FIFA Player of the Year winner: 1996 (Age 20)
Youngest Two-Time FIFA Player of Year winner: 1996, 1997 (Age 21)
Youngest Ballon d'Or winner: 1997 (Age 21)
Inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015 (first Brazilian to have ever been inducted into the IFHH)

 

INJURIES OR NO INJURIES there's not a man who can match his resume!
O Fenomeno is getting robbed by the media!

 

Beckenbauer's resume is definetly more impressive

 

Then he should replace CRUYFF since that was his direct competition
And no it's not!

 

NObody can take away his influence and how he changed the game forever:

[tub]SRJSgCd2Ydk[/tub]

[tub]YiWNTrCSIQ4[/tub]

[tub]Nylg7KhpGjc[/tub]

 

EN BUSCA DE LA 'QUINTA CORONA'
Ronaldo, tras la senda de los cuatro grandes

JESÚS ALCAIDE

Ronaldo abraza a Pelé tras conquistar el Mundial./EFE
MÁS INFORMACIÓN

Ronaldo: 'No lo imaginaba ni en mis sueños'
Scolari: 'Tenemos la mejor defensa del mundo'
Parreira pide la continuidad de Scolari
Rivaldo: 'Sabíamos que íbamos a ganar'
Este es el combinado campeón

Volver a América >
MADRID.- Con 25 años, Ronaldo está a tiempo de alcanzar la reputación de los cuatro mejores futbolistas: Pelé, Di Stéfano, Cruyff y Maradona.

Lo va a repetir. Tiene años y partidos por delante para reprogramar el vídeo y reencontrarse con la inspiración que le permitió anotar en Santiago de Compostela y con el número 9 del Barcelona uno de los goles más bellos de la Historia, un slalom imposible de siete segundos en el que hasta seis defensas rivales presentaron bandera blanca tras cada quiebro, tras cada invento del fenómeno.

Han pasado casi seis años desde aquella noche de octubre de 1996 en la que comenzó a instalarse en el mundo del fútbol la certeza de que el trono que había dejado vacante Diego Armando Maradona por fin tenía heredero, de que la línea sucesoria marcada en el Mundial de 1994, el último de Maradona y el primero de Ronaldo, suplente y sin un minuto de juego, pero ya famoso, quedaba confirmada.

Aquella inolvidable temporada en el Barça de Bobby Robson regaló a un Ronaldo autor de 34 goles, algunos de ellos imprescindibles para los ratones de videoteca. Era el más grande y tenía derecho a sentir, con apenas 20 años, que lucía argumentos suficientes para lucir la quinta corona, la que lo identificaría como el único futbolista capaz de mirar de igual a igual a los grandes, al incansable y ubícuo Alfredo di Stéfano, al voraz Pelé, al inteligente Johan Cruyff y al genial Diego Armando Maradona. No había que buscar más.

El mundo se rindió ante un extraterrestre que se abría camino entre los defensas rivales con una combinación jamás vista de potencia, habilidad y talento. Se paraba el mundo cada vez que Ronaldo enfilaba la ruta de la portería contraria desde cualquier punto del campo. Era inevitable que el balón acabara en la red, ante la impotencia de las montañas de defensores incapaces de contener lo incontenible.

El reinado duró poco y Ronaldo no pudo firmar gestas suficientes para retener esa corona que sus sienes lucieron durante menos de un año. El trasvase a Italia selló su triste destino y el inexplicable ataque sufrido horas antes de la final del Mundial de Francia lo convirtió por vez primera en un perdedor a los ojos del mundo que lo había idolatrado.

El calvario, sus dos brutales lesiones de la rodilla derecha, habrían sepultado a cualquier otro futbolista. Perdió más de dos años entre clínicas y gimnasios. Incluso el doctor que ahora presume de haberlo recuperado y que asistió a la final como invitado de Ronaldo, el francés Robert Salliant, reconoció que incluso él mismo dudaba de que pudiera recobrar todas sus facultades futbolísticas.

Aún no está al 100%, soporta en sus movimientos la carga de algún kilo de más y en ocasiones no parece sentirse seguro de sus posibilidades. En la final marcó dos goles, pero erró el remate en tres ocasiones francas. Probablemente, ni él mismo pensaba que podía llegar al éxtasis de los ocho goles, a tomar el papel de protagonista indiscutible y salvador de un Mundial en el que fracasaron las restantes estrellas, las que habían ocupado su lugar mientras él sollozaba de dolor en las interminables sesiones de recuperación.

A un 70%, Ronaldo es, sin discusión, el mejor delantero del mundo. Con unos argumentos y desde una posición diferentes a las de los cuatro reyes del fútbol, ya ha recuperado medio cetro. Tiene sólo 25 años, llegará al Mundial de Alemania en plena madurez, con 29. Buena edad para un monarca del fútbol.

http://www.elmundo.es/mundial/2002/2002/07/01/america/1025525353.html

Quick translation: R9 was well on his way...

 

Ronaldo, the 20th century footballer
(FIFA.com) 11 Feb 1997

Ronaldo, the FIFA World Player of the year, is surpassing all superlatives. A portrait of the 20 year-old Brazilian.
BY JUAN PEDRO MARTÍNEZ
Director of the Spanish football magazine "Don Balon".

Extra-terrestrial, phenomenal, genius, crack, star, scorer of impossible, unusual, spectacular, unbelievable goals. One thing is certain, the Spanish press are having to work hard to come up with new adjectives for describing the exploits of this young man -barely 20- named Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, who has almost turned Spanish football upside down with his incredible performances in the few months he has been playing in the countrÿ.

Ronaldo arrived in Barcelona last summer after the club had paid PSV Eindhoven 2,550 million pesetas for the transfer. Despite this astronomical sum, no-one has the slightest doubt that FC Barcelona got a good bargain. But equally no-one really expected the young star to rise to the heights so quickly or so spectacularly, given the countless big names already playing in the Spanish league.

Name: Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of birth: 22 de september de 1976
Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 77 Kg
Clubs: 1990-91 Social Ramos Clube (Rio): 12 matches/8 goals

1991-93 São Cristovao (Rio): 54 matches/36 goals

1993-94 Cruzeiro (Belo Horizonte): 60 matches/58 goals

1994-96 PSV Eindhoven: 56 matches/55 goals.

1996 FC Barcelona: 15 matches/13 goals.
Internationals: 15 matches/9 goals
Int. debut: 24.3.1994 against Argentina (2:1)
Honours: 1991 South American U-16 champion

1994 Member of Brazil's World Cup winning squad.

1995 Second in South American Championship.

1996 Cup-winner with Eindhoven in Holland.

1996 Bronze medal with Brazil's Olympic team in the USA.
Updated: December 23, 1996
Incredible goal
The brilliance really began to show during the return match against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Cup. With a mixture of goals, assists and dribbles, it was on that day that he convinced his own club, and everybody else, of his remarkable skills. The masterful combination of speed, power and technique which characterizes his play reached a high point with the incredible goal he scored against Compostela in Santiago. It was one of the best goals seen in Spanish football, perhaps in the world, with Ronaldo dribbling the ball for 60 meters, going past opponents in every conceivable manner before putting the ball into the net with the precision of Swiss clockwork. He confirmed that this was not a one-off with a hat-trick performance against Valencia in Barcelona a few days later; all three goals were of similar calibre to the one in Santiago. After these superb successes he was showered with more praise than any player in Spain before him. Perhaps the most original and also most fitting description of Ronaldo came from the pen of Manuel Vasquez Montalban, one of the most lively contemporary Spanish writers: "He?s a strapping young lad with the constitution of a champion boxer and the feet of Fred Astaire."

His outstanding skills have already led to his being seen as the certain successor to Pele himself, and compared with the four "gods" of football legend, the group that includes Maradona, Di Stefano and Cruyff in addition to Pele. Ronaldo insists he is a long way from that, an opinion that the Brazilian national coach Mario Lobo Zagallo ? and hardly anyone knows Ronaldo better ? agrees with: "although Ronaldinho is Brazil?s best forward, and probably the best in the world, he has a long way to go before he reaches the greatness of a Pele." A careful and thorough analysis would indicate that Ronaldo?s skills differ considerably from those of the four legends mentioned above. His relationship to the game is completely different. Pele, Maradona and Di Stefano were much more versatile, knew how to open up a game, were masters of the art of being in the right place at the right time and also scored goals. Ronaldo is a specialist, a classical centre-forward, always looking for the direct route to goal. He stubbornly wants to keep up the unbelievable scoring rate that he has set in his matches so far. But on the other hand his play lacks the elegance of style and the aesthetic touch of his predecessors, as well as their virtuosity, versatility and fantasy. He goes about the game in a different way, but it can be more effective and it is certainly successful. He has a bit of the best of them all. What enables him to beat opponents is speed, agility and intuition in combination with tricky, unexpected movements, and then comes the absolute precision of his finishing. And he does seem to have a touch of the superhuman, like an irresistible, powerful machine than rolls over anything that gets in the way.

The irresistible Ronaldo leaves his opponents standing.
PICTURES: Don Balon
As happens these days, news of his success spread quickly round the world and resulted in his market value being driven sky high. The price tag of 4,000 million which the Catalonian club reckoned he was worth last summer would look more like 10,000 million in the meantime, since other top European clubs like Milan, Arsenal or Manchester United would have been ready to pay the 4,000 million without hesitation. Ronaldo?s income has also doubled. Currently he is guaranteed 500 million net per season until his contract runs out on 30 June 2006. This makes him the highest paid football player in the world, but compared to other sports he is well behind people like Mike Tyson (9,500 mio.), Michael Jordan (6,700) or Michael Schumacher (4,200).
Honest and considerate

At the end of last year, when negotiations for the new contract were in full spate, Ronaldo had to face the first criticism he had been subjected to in Barcelona. It concerned a slight drop off in his goal scoring rate, which malicious tongues put down to his passionate romance with Susana Werner, a Brazilian model (also a football player with Fluminense) who was the reason for many flights back to Rio de Janeiro. Without losing his smile, Ronaldo countered his critics with the honesty and modesty that he has shown through all the period of gushing praise since his arrival in Barcelona. "Nothing has happened. I know that I will get praise and criticism here. I am responsible only to God and I hope that he will help me to score goals and to make the Barça fans happy."

Ronaldo: Fast and forceful.
Such statements from Ronaldo are not just brush-offs. Away from the football pitch that is his manner ? an honest, modest, considerate, open and likeable person, whom thousands of children admire. A real champion, as the words of team colleague Laurent Blanc perhaps make clearer: "On the field he is like a child, always after the ball. Off the field he is intelligent and astonishingly mature for his 20 years. In the dressing room he is just one of us."
This is the human side of Ronaldo, a true champion whose outstanding talent could perhaps see him develop into an even more incredible footballer in the 21st century.

http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=1997/m=2/news=ronaldo-the-20th-century-footballer-71877.html

 

 

Sacchi: "Questo è un mostro, ma l'altro Ronaldo era un Fenomeno"
L'ex cittì: "In una partita del Real aveva percorso meno metri di Casillas: gli bastava poco per essere eccezionale"
Invia ad un amico OkNotizie Stampa
AAA
21 Novembre 2013
Cristiano Ronaldo (LaPresse)
Arrigo Sacchi: “Cristiano Ronaldo mi piaceva di più quando giocava nel Manchester United. Nessuno con il suo istinto del gol? Non mi sembra che Messi sia da meno e anche l'altro Ronaldo, il Fenomeno, era incredibile da questo punto di vista. Anzi, lui correva molto meno di Cristiano Ronaldo tanto che durante una partita tra Real Madrid e Valencia, quando ero direttore tecnico delle 'merenegues', calcolammo che Ronnie corse addirittura meno di Iker Casillas, il portiere. Il brasiliano ti scartava anche da fermo con capacità di dribbling uniche mentre Cristiano ha bisogno di spazio per la sua velocità".
(r.o.) - La citazione non è nuova: nel senso che Arrigo Sacchi l’ha già raccontata a suo tempo, tempo fa, e ci aveva fatto un po’ sorridere perché è un paradosso, ma mica tanto: Ronaldo il Fenomeno che in una partita del Real Madrid ha corso meno di Iker Casillas, il portiere del Real. Un attaccante (un calciatore che non sia portiere) che corre meno di un portiere è una anomalia, e anche una assurdità. Ma Sacchi, raccontando l’aneddoto, aveva e ha in mente un solenne elogio di un calciatore, Ronaldo il Fenomeno, che Fenomeno lo era davvero: gli bastava poco per giocate e gol magnifici. Inimitabili.
Che sia vero o non vero, l’aneddoto dell’ex cittì, è un dato relativo: da almeno dieci anni si misurano i metri che un calciatore percorre in una partita, e può anche essere che sia accaduto. Se poi l’ha detta Sacchi, non c’è motivo di dubitare: è un po’ grossa, ma ci possiamo adeguare.
Quel che è certo è che Ronaldo non crediamo si senta offeso; che Sacchi rimane una formidabile antologia di calcio vissuto, vincente e raccontato; e che i fenomeni di oggi, Ronaldo il portoghese e Messi la Pulce, sanno benissimo cos’è il Pallone ai massimi livelli possibili, ma il Ronaldo di ieri era davvero un portento, un Fenomeno appunto: che per la sfortuna di incidenti terribili e una certa ritrosia a soffrire per allenarsi ha vissuto una carriera meno lunga di quanto potesse avere. Ma chi ha avuto la fortuna di averlo, il Barcellona, poi l’Inter, poi Il Real Madrid e anche il Milan e la Nazionale brasiliana che con lui ha vissuto tre Mondiali, due vinti nel ’94 e nel 2002 e uno perso nel ’98 in finale con la Francia, sa benissimo come si sta e come si vive accanto a un Fenomeno.

http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.i...1018245/sacchi-questo-e-un-mostro-ma-l-altro-ronaldo-era-un-fenomeno-160-.shtml

In other words: CR7 and Messi are monsters…but O FENOMENO, wasn't a phenomenon he was THE PHENOMENON!

 

What they are saying as striker Ronaldo retires
Feb 15, 2011
Jonathan Harwood
‘El Fenomeno’ has called time on his glittering career at the age of 34


The glittering career of Brazilian striker Ronaldo has come to an end under something of a cloud, after the 34-year-old striker quit the game midway through what was to be his final season with Corinthians.

He made the announcement at a tearful press conference at which he revealed that he had been battling hypothyroidism for many years, a medical condition that made it hard for him to control his weight as the drugs he needed to take are banned in sport.

His weight, along with the condition of his knees, had become a major talking point among fans, and when Corinthians were knocked out of Copa Libertadores at the hands of minnows Deportes Tolima last month abusive graffiti about 'fat' Ronaldo was painted on walls near the club's ground in Sao Paolo.

That defeat robbed 'El Fenomeno', as he was known, of the opportunity to bow out in style with another medal and it is widely believed that it prompted his decision to quit immediately.

He told the press: "Mentally I wanted to continue but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body."

His career will not be easily forgotten. Possessed of a terrifying mixture of pace and power he was one of the most feared strikers on the planet even before he turned 20.

He scored 247 goals in 343 club appearances, twice won the world cup, was named world player of the year three times (a distinction he shares with Zinedine Zidane) and holds the record for the most number of goals scored at World Cup finals (with 15). In 97 appearances for Brazil he scored 62 goals.

He was a member of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 World Cup, and he was their trump card in 1998, but his infamous and mysterious collapse before the World Cup Final against France undermined Brazil's challenge. He gained revenge when he scored twice against Germany in the 2002 final, after resurrecting his career following the first of several serious knee injuries.

Having spent 14 years plying his trade in Europe with PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan he returned to Brazil in 2009 to see out his glittering career.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT RONALDO:

Matt Dickinson, the Times: "I cannot think that any footballer from the past 20 years who has combined more qualities than O Fenomeno; the muscular power, explosive pace, the balance, the tricks, the finishing and the infectious exuberance."

Rob Hughes, the New York Times: "At his best, he displayed a clarity of mind and an ability to strike out of nothing that defied all manner of attempts to stop him."

Paul Wilson, the Guardian: "Anyone who saw Ronaldo in his pomp in the late 90s and early years of this century saw a footballing force that was close to unstoppable. Not always as elegant as Zidane or as inventive as Lionel Messi, Ronaldo's particular speciality was a sort of head-down charge at defenders with the ball at his feet."

Ashley Gray, Daily Mail: "It was activity away from football which also grabbed the headlines for a player who was an original Galactico and a product of the game's Nineties boom. He was friends with rock stars, married in a French chateau, met the Pope, appeared in the Simpsons, became the toothy face of Nike and fed an intrigue in WAGs."

Rory Smith, Daily Telegraph: "He was a blur of motion, a fusion of power and grace. Dating back the world's best player is a curious business, but it seems just to suggest that Ronaldo was the finest footballer of the 1990s."

http://www.theweek.co.uk/football/7797/what-they-are-saying-striker-ronaldo-retires

 

Legends of Football: Ronaldo Luís Nazário De Lima, "Il Fenomeno"
By Adrian Agius , Analyst Feb 18, 2013

SHARE
TWEET
NEXT ARTICLE »Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories
Legends of Football: Ronaldo Luís Nazário De Lima, David Cannon/Getty Images
28.9K
Reads
21
Comments
There aren't many ways you can describe a two-time World Cup winner, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and all-time leading World Cup finals goalscorer. But for Ronaldo Luís Nazário De Lima—commonly known as Ronaldo—"Il Fenomeno" was the closest thing world football could come up with. And truth be told, he was phenomenal—forever a legend of the game.

Ronaldo was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1976. Like so many other legends of the game, Ronaldo was rarely seen without a ball at his feet from a young age. In a documentary about his life aired on Sky Sports, he was described as a "naughty" young boy by neighbours. However, it was clear to them that he had football running through his veins.

Incredibly enough, Ronaldo was unable to trial for Rio's top clubs initially because they refused to pay for his bus fare to the trial itself. As such, he was picked up by local side Sao Cristovao. Coach of Ronaldo's side at the time Roberto Gaglianone commented on Ronaldo's incredible pace and decision making on the ball. He like many around him knew that Ronaldo's emphatic scoring rate at the club would not go unnoticed for long and sure enough, two years after he signed at Cristovao, Cruzeiro came calling.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images
A legend was about to be born.

While his move to Cruzeiro was short-lived, Ronaldo netted 57 times in 59 matches for the club over the course of two years. At just 17 years of age Ronaldo had already won his first piece of silverware with the Brazilian side—the Copa do Brazil.

Remarkably, in 1994, the boy from Rio was called up to Brazil's World Cup squad. At the tender age of 17, many argued he was not ready for the world stage, but more began to draw comparisons between Ronaldo and Pele. The Selecao took down Italy in the final, and although Ronaldo did not feature during the campaign in the USA, he had already gained experience far beyond any other player his age.

Unsurprisingly, the World Cup exposed Ronaldo to a plethora of interest from Europe and following the 1994 World Cup, he transferred to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £4.2million. It seemed by this stage that almost a goal a game was becoming the norm for Brazil's latest sensation; and by the time he had finished with PSV he had scored 66 goals in 70 appearances.

By this point he had amassed more silverware than most professional footballers do in their lifetime, with five titles—including a World Cup.

But he was on the move. Barcelona the destination for a then-record fee of £19.5 million.

Now, if ever there has been a greater debut season for a club anywhere in the world, I am yet to have seen it. I mean, listen to this: 47 goals in 51 matches, top scorer in the La Liga, winner of the Copa Del Rey and Supercopa Espana, UEFA Cup winner and FIFA World Player of the Year, not to mention runner-up for the Ballon d'or.


Football journalist Sid Lowe described Ronaldo as "too good for the league" (La Liga) during his time at Barca and following disagreements regarding wages, Ronaldo was lured away by Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Inter became his base in the lead-up to the 1998 World Cup. He was effective there, netting 39 times in 56 matches for the club in his first season. However, his and Brazil's eyes were on something much bigger than the glory he was tasting with Inter.

Getty Images/Getty Images
Two legends of the game, funnily enough, the first two legends covered in "Legends of the Game"
France 1998 was about to get underway. And at 21 Ronaldo carried the hopes of a nation into the tournament.

Brazil cruised through the competition reaching a final with France. Ronaldo was at the centre-piece of all things good for the (then) four-time World Cup winners. It seemed impossible that Brazil not win the competition. I mean, Ronaldo had already netted four times and notched up three assists, he was unstoppable.

But the night of the World Cup final, things went horribly wrong. Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit and was ruled out of the match against France. The hopes of a nation were dashed, until just minutes before kick-off, when Ronaldo walked into the Brazil dressing room and demanded he be included in the starting squad.

Manager Mario Zagallo included Il Fenomeno in the starting XI and although Brazil lost 3-0 to an impressive French outfit, Ronaldo played in the World Cup final—albeit a shadow of his best.

Returning to Italy, he continued to shine for Inter, until, on November 21, 1999, Ronaldo suffered a knee injury against Lecce. A ruptured tendon, surgery and grueling months of rehabilitation came to fruition when Il Fenomeno returned in April the following year. But it was no use, he went on to miss the entire 2000-01 season in order to preserve his career.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
As far as comebacks go, the Brazilian International's return from injury to play in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, is right up there with the greatest in sporting history. With practically no playing time under his belt, Ronaldo came to Korea with many critics disputing his selection in the national team.

In just one month, Ronaldo single-handedly wrote himself into the history books, taking home the Golden Boot with eight goals and leading Brazil to their record fifth World Cup crown. The critics aforementioned had no choice but to praise the Brazilian superstar.

He netted the only goal in Brazil's semi against Turkey and a double in the final against Germany. Ronaldo was, at this point, the best striker on the planet...all after being sidelined for an entire season.

Ronaldo tears apart United at Old Trafford in the 2003 UCL
It would prove to only be a matter of time before Ronaldo became the next Galactico and when a €46 million fee came the way of Inter Milan, Florentino Pérez had his man. All in all, he scored 118 goals in 194 matches for Real Madrid. Despite his phenomenal talent and goal-getting, he was still criticised—this time for weight issues.

Such criticism carried over into the 2006 World Cup where Carlos Alberto Parreira was urged by many not to include him in Brazil's line-ups. Despite this, Parreira stuck with Ronaldo, and although Brazil were dispatched by France, Ronaldo netted three times to become the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 15 goals over three tournaments.

The press, along with the signing of Ruud van Nistelrooy at Real Madrid eventually forced Ronaldo out of the Spanish capital. AC Milan picked up the "overweight" striker, but interestingly enough, Ronaldo's weight gain was nothing of his own doing.

In a piece written on Ronaldo on BackPageFootball.com, the issue surrounding Ronaldo's weight gain is probably best summed up:

New Press/Getty Images
With Milan Lab’s tests, several defects of Ronaldo’s fitness were addressed. Ronaldo was handed a gumshield to release more testosterone during matches, but his underactive thyroid gland meant that O Fenômeno gained weight more quickly than other athletes. From this, Milan wished to put him on a course of levothyroxine to stabilise his weight. Controversially, the IOC prohibited this and as Ronaldo’s weight increased, his tender knees were strained and his overall mobility was significantly reduced.

At Milan he only produced 10 goals in 21 appearances.

They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice, but for Ronaldo a third injury to his knee saw him effectively end his career at Milan, but it wasn't the end, not yet at least.

In 2009, he recommenced training with Brazilian side Corinthians. He played in Brazil for three years, scoring 35 times in 69 matches. Regardless of his diminished—yet still impressive—goal scoring rate, his sheer determination to recover from three separate serious injuries is testament to his character and footballing talent.

Is Ronaldo the most complete forward to ever play the game?
Yes
No
SUBMIT VOTE vote to see results
Unfair criticism, excessive doubt and unfavourable media attention, did not do anything to aid Ronaldo's staggered career. For a player who missed so much football due to injury, his record is unfathomable. By the end of his career, Il Fenomeno's goal scoring figures were as follows: 490 goals in 715 matches...truly remarkable.

It is scary to think just how much more impressive Brazil's No. 9 could've have been had he not been sidelined for extended periods. We talk of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being prolific scorers—and they are—but Ronaldo, in my opinion is still a step ahead of them both.

Messi and Ronaldo (Cristiano) are great players in a healthy world game, but Il Fenomeno will always be remembered as a legend from an era where the world game was filled with remarkable players.

The most complete forward to ever step foot on a pitch, Ronaldo Luís Nazário De Lima, a true legend of the game.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...com/articles/1525981-legends-of-football-ronaldo-lus-nazrio-de-lima-il-fenomeno

 

[tub]aPfLKGUI2uo[/tub]
roud:

 

[tub]yaTtPcYXFmE[/tub]

 

[tub]RE9Fr1Ze75c[/tub]

 

La Saeta Rubia and O Fenomeno

O Rei and O Fenomeno

El Flaco and O Fenomeno

El Pelusa and O Fenomeno

La Pulga and O Fenomeno

 

All in one season? Has this ever been matched? NOPE!

A technicality barred his chances of winning the UCL!!!

 

RONALDO's Statute outside NIKE's Headquarters

Neymar!

It's got to be the shoes!

 

Seriously, Dags?

Why even mention these in Ronaldo's CV?

I.R.E.O (Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization) IREO Renewable Energy Award: 2009 (IREO Renewable Energy Award is a global awards program designed to recognize those at the forefront of energy innovation)

Better hope evolving/moving in Europe "The Award Cheer/The Bravo Awards": 1997, 1998

'Personalidad Extranjera del Año' de la BBC/ BBC's Foreign Personality of the Year: 2002

G.Q. Magazine Man of the Year Award: 2004

receives the Number 1 Volunteer Diploma from Luis Fernando Hernandes, president of Brazil's Red Cross, during a ceremony at the Red Cross headquarters in Rio de Janeiro: 2005

FES Key to the City Award Ronaldo’s Friends vs Zidane’s Friends: 2008

Ronaldo - Recebeu Certificado do Membro Voluntario do Amigo do Esporte (AME) no Centro Olimpico: 2011

 

He's earned them
People can't help but to honor his legacy roud: