Birth Date: September 22 1976
Birth Place: Bento Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Birth Nation: Brazil
Height: 183cm
Weight: 78Kg
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Forward
Also Known as: Fenomeno / The Phenomenon
He is named after Doctor Ronaldo Valente, who helped Ronaldo's mother, Sonia dos Santos Barata during her third delivery
Previous Clubs:
Cruziero 1993-1994
PSV Eindhoven 1994-1996
Barcelona 1996-1997
Inter Milan 1997-2002
Full Name: Luiz Nazario de Lima Ronaldo
In Dec 2002 World Soccer magazine named Ronaldo as their player of the year and he went on to score 23 league goals for Madrid last season.
He won the Golden Boot in the 2002 World Cup with 8 goals, including both goals scored in the final, this was after suffering 3 injury plagued years. He has twice won World Player of the Year. He joined Real Madrid for 45m Euros on August 31 2002.
Ronaldo Rumours and Transfers
22 10 2007
Italy are dominating the Golden Ball list of 50 candidates with eight players, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona each contributed seven names on the list.
- Golden Ball 2007 nominees:
Éric Abidal (Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona)
Daniel Alves (FC Sevilla)
David Beckham (Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy)
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Kaka (Milan)
Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Paolo Maldini (Milan)
Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic Glasgow)
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan),
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto),
Raul (Real Madrid)
Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille, Bayern Munchen),
Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors, Villarreal)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Manchester United)
Luca Toni (Fiorentina, Bayern Munchen)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
Jose Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, Liverpool)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
David Villa (Valencia)
22 10 2007
Nemanja Vidic is in line for a Manchester United recall as the Red Devils look to maintain their 100 per cent Champions League record against Dynamo Kiev.
The tough-tackling Serbia international missed Saturday's win at Aston Villa after suffering concussion against Wigan prior to the international break but has returned to Sir Alex Ferguson's squad and is expected to replace Gerard Pique.
Cristiano Ronaldo will play after sitting out the four-goal rout at Villa Park, with fellow countryman Nani most likely to stand down.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Eagles, Rooney, Tevez, Dong.
16 10 2007
Barcelona left-back Sylvinho has defended those Barcelona players who wish to continue their international careers despite the condemnation of president Joan Laporta.
The former Brazil international said, "Players love to play football and, if summoned by their country, they will gladly heed the call. Footballers are just looking to play, but it seems that we have the least to say on the subject."
Nonetheless, the veteran defender admitted that there are complications.
"It's a simple comment, but a complex issue," he conceded, adding that his time with the Brazil team - which coincided with his spell at Arsenal - had its difficulties.
Sylvinho is currently a squad player at the Nou Camp, with new signing Eric Abidal having made the left-back slot his own. The 33 year old, though, has not given up hope of regaining his place from the younger Frenchman.
"As a player, you want to play, and you're happy when you can," he began.
"I will continue to work hard in training in order to play my role well when the coach decides that it's time for me to do so."
On the subject of Lionel Messi's Golden Ball candidacy, he said, "Messi is a player without equal, and every day he gets better, but I prefer not to talk about who's the best in the world. I always say that there are four or five very good players, and Messi is one of them, like Kaka, Ronaldinho, or Cristiano Ronaldo."
Sylvinho, formerly of Celta Vigo, arrived at the Nou Camp from Arsenal in 2004. He has 6 caps for Brazil.
15 10 2007
Reports suggest that Fiorentina's striking star Adrian Mutu is on Real Madrid's radar, but the Romanian insists that he is happy in Florence.
After a tough chapter in his career, Mutu has reinvented himself at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and has become one of Serie A's most reliable hitmen.
Having hit 16 goals last term, the 28-year-old already has five to his name in the current campaign.
According to Spanish website Sport.es, La Liga champions Real Madrid are ready to offer around £12m for Mutu and would double his wage bill, but claims he is immovable.
'In Florence, just as in the national side, I have found a family where I feel at home,' the ex-Chelsea man told the Press.
'I get on very well with the players and the atmosphere of the city really suits me. At the moment I'm happy and I'm going nowhere.'
Madrid isn't the only destination to be suggested in recent weeks. Manchester City, Lyon and Dynamo Moscow have all been linked with unlikely swoops.
It is also believed that Milan are keeping a close eye on Mutu, as key striker Ronaldo's future remains uncertain.
14 10 2007
Ronaldo could be set to be named in the AC Milan squad for the first time this season after recovering from an injury that has seen him miss the start of the new campaign.
The Brazilian has been sidelined after having a muscle injury wrongly diagnosed during the summer, but is now on the verge of making his long-awaited comeback.
Milan have struggled up front with Alberto Gilardino and Pippo Inzaghi unable to find the net regularly and there have even been calls for the Rossoneri to dip into the transfer market in January.
Ronaldo's return will be very welcome for coach Carlo Ancelotti and he could be ready to name him on the bench for the game against Empoli next weekend.
Tests on Tuesday will reveal how the striker's injury has progressed and if that looks good then doctors will give him the green light to start playing again.
Despite scoring 13 goals this term, Milan are in eighth place in Serie A with just two wins from their opening seven matches.
11 10 2007
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo's priority for the season is to win the Champions League with The Red Devils.
The Portugal international has put the fabled European prize above any personal achievements after being named in Fifa's shortlist for the World Player of the Year award.
"It's always nice to be recognised individually but the most important thing is winning things as a team with Manchester United,' said the 22-year-old.
"The priority for us this season is the Champions League, and retaining the title.'
United team-mates Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney were also named in the 30-man list, which includes ten Premier League players, with Chelsea providing five names.
07 10 2007
Cristiano Ronaldo has ended what was a frosty relationship with fellow countryman Jose Mourinho by wishing the former Chelsea boss well in his future endeavours.
It was widely documented that the Manchester United star and the 'special one' were not overly fond of one another after Mourinho said the Portugal international 'lacked class'.
That statement elicited a barbed response from Sir Alex Ferguson, who jumped to his player's defence, but now Ronaldo has decided to bury the hatchet by saying he believes The Premier League will miss the outspoken coach.
"English football will miss Jose Mourinho," said Ronaldo.
"He is a great manager. He won a lot of things in England and the titles speak for themselves. Maybe he wants a new experience but I wish him all the best."
Ronaldo has already stated his desire to do the treble this season, but he is well aware that it will be a huge ask for The Red Devils given the competition they face in what is already proving a tight league challenge.
"There will be more teams involved in the title race this season," he said.
"Liverpool and Arsenal are very strong, and along with Manchester United and Chelsea have the chance to win the league every season. Arsenal are playing fantastically at the moment and they have such a young team. Liverpool have new players and are doing well too. But I believe Manchester United are still the best. I know we are not playing the best football at the moment. But it is coming and which I think it will be tougher this season, I believe we will win it."
03 10 2007
Cristiano Ronaldo claims he was the victim of an elbow in Manchester United's Champions League win over Roma on Tuesday.
Ronaldo was forced from the field late on with a cut eyebrow after an apparent clash with Roma substitute Mirko Vucinic.
Sir Alex Ferguson failed to see the incident but revealed Ronaldo believes he was targeted by Vucinic.
'I did not see it but Cristiano said he was elbowed. He had four stitches in his eyebrow,' Ferguson told a national paper.
Despite the incident, Ferguson praised both sets of players for their approach to a match that had been billed as a Roma revenge mission.
'It was unfortunate because the game was played in a good spirit and there was a good atmosphere. There is always the possibility of an incident in a match of this kind setting things off – particularly after our 7-1 win here last season. But congratulations to both sets of players.'
01 10 2007
Owen Hargreaves could boost Manchester United ahead of the Champions League clash with Roma by returning from a thigh injury.
The 26-year-old former Bayern Munich midfielder has been ruled out of United's last five games because of the injury he suffered while training with England ahead of last month's Euro 2008 qualifiers.
He almost returned for the Birmingham game on Saturday, but Sir Alex Ferguson is now likely to hand him a European debut for United against the Italians on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has warned Roma that United are in the mood to hit the goals trail this season as the side look to emulate last term's emphatic 7-1 Champions League quarter-final win against them at Old Trafford in April.
He told the Manchester Evening News: "My form is coming back. I am working hard in training and the goals are coming now. I don't think too much about it but scoring goals is important for me and the team. I have worked hard for that."
01 10 2007
Ronaldinho said his current difficulties will not force him out of FC Barcelona.
The Brazil forward, who is under contract until 2010, has endured a lacklustre start to the season amid reports that he broke Barcelona's code of conduct by going out two days before a match.
Substituted in three matches, Ronaldinho then had a calf strain which kept him sidelined for the past three league games - all of which Barcelona won in style.
British media have suggested Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sees Ronaldinho's arrival as the answer to the club's slump since the departure of coach Jose Mourinho and is willing to pay Barcelona 70 million pounds (Euro100 million; US$141 million) for the 27-year-old Brazilian.
Meanwhile, AC Milan appears keen to add Ronaldinho to a roster which already includes compatriots Ronaldo and Kaka.
"Not Chelsea or Milan. I want to stay with Barcelona. That's my wish, Ronaldinho's wish," the player was quoted as saying by Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Monday.
The two-time FIFA world player of the year, who has been recalled for Barcelona's Champions League Group E game at Stuttgart on Tuesday, denied breaching club rules.
"That annoyed me because I have been here for five seasons and I have always behaved the same way. I was annoyed, that's understandable, but life isn't always marvelous. At times like this, I concentrate on my work. I will give my response on the field," Ronaldinho said.
"Whenever a newspaper writes something bad there are a lot of people giving me encouragement. At Barcelona I feel at home."
Ronaldinho, who helped the team win back-to-back Spanish league titles as well as the 2006 Champions League, said he hadn't tired of success.
"I want to win everything I have already won. What keeps me here is looking around the dressing room and seeing a group of really great players, with such talent, who can make history at the club," he said.
Ronaldinho said he hopes to be playing for Barcelona in 2009 when British architect Norman Foster is due to have completed the modernization of Camp Nou stadium.
"When the next stadium is opened I would like to be able to appear before my crowd having won two more Champions Leagues, around me a great team which is capable of winning more titles," he said.
"It's as if Foster had got inside my head. He has created a stadium with so much color, so much joy. It's the stadium I imagined, it's as if it was my new house."
