"He's not a man, he's a herd", quipped Argentina's World Cup winning forward Jorge Valdano about Brazil's Il Fenomeno, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, who turns 40 on September 18. Valdano's observation is only a tiny slice of the long line of praise that has came the way of the former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid striker over the years gone by.
Many among the best of defenders and coaches vouch for Ronaldo's being the best they have ever seen on a football pitch. For fans who grew up watching football in the mid-1990s, Ronaldo's powerful, direct runs and mazy dribbles proved to be the zenith of the Beautiful Game during the decade.
Before him, Pele, Garrincha, Vava, Zico, and Romario had wowed the Brazilian public. Ronaldo was different. He provided a different dimension to the X factor business, an aspect that is directly associated with top players across the world.
Defenders and goalkeepers were left embarrassed, and the casualties included some of the best in the business at the time, including Italian greats Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, and Dutchman Jaap Stam.
By the end of the 20th century, Ronaldo, at 24, was already hailed as one of the greatest ever, and plundered goals for fun in Holland, Spain, and Italy.
Great Brazilian footballers are judged by winning a World Cup for their country. Ronaldo braved a seizure attack on the eve of the 1998 World Cup final, but was below par as France walked away with the trophy.
In 2000, Ronaldo suffered a career threatening knee injury and barely played any football for the next two years. But that didn't stop the three-time Ballon d'Or winner from taking his country to the promised land in 2002 in Korea-Japan. Brazil won their fifth World Cup as Ronaldo scored eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final against Germany, rounding off a comeback that only champions are made of.
By the time 2006 came along, Ronaldo's powers were on the wane. He never won the UEFA Champions League in his career, but the power, pace, and the thrill that Ronaldo brought when he had the ball at his feet was matched by few. He is regarded as one of the greatest of all time. In France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry's words, he was one of the three (along with Ramario and George Weah) who "...reinvented the centre forward position" forever.
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