Ronaldo Nazario was among the world’s best strikers throughout his 18-year career, but what World Cups did the Real Madrid icon play in and how many did he win with Brazil?
The Rio de Janeiro-born legend is among the Selecao’s most-capped stars of all-time after making 98 international appearances. Only seven players from Cafu on 142 to Robinho on 100 have turned out more for the South American nation than Ronaldo from 1994 to 2011.
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Carlos Alberto Parreira handed Ronaldo his senior Brazil debut at 17 years, six months and two days in March 1994. He featured as a late substitute against Argentina, before scoring his maiden goal that May on his first Selecao start in a pre-World Cup friendly with Iceland.
Ronaldo moved to Europe in the summer of 1994 with PSV Eindhoven for his first transfer away from Brazil. He would spend just two seasons in the Netherlands, though, before a £13.2m transfer to Barcelona. The sum marked a world-record fee at the time of the deal.
Yet despite him scoring 47 goals in just 49 games, Ronaldo left Barcelona for Inter Milan in June 1997. The Nerazzurri triggered a £17.7m release clause in the forward’s Camp Nou contract. He would spend five years at the San Siro, before joining Real Madrid for £38.1m.
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Ronaldo enjoyed goal and trophy-laden spells with Inter Milan and Real Madrid, up to him joining AC Milan in 2007. The Brazil hero, who scored 62 international goals, found the net 59 times across 99 games with the Nerazzurri and 103 times over 177 Los Blancos outings.
Fifa lauded Ronaldo’s efforts with PSV and Barcelona in 1996, Blaugrana and Nerazzurri in 1997 and Inter and Real Madrid in 2002 by naming him as the World Player of the Year. His three titles for the award given from 1991 to 2009 is the joint-most with Zinedine Zidane.
His trophy cabinet also included Ballon d’Or titles in 1997 and 2002, two top-flight titles for Real Madrid, domestic cup glory with Barcelona and Inter Milan, plus a UEFA Cup with the San Siro side, before retiring in 2011 at the age of 34 citing injuries and hypothyroidism.
Brazil honoured Ronaldo with a farewell cameo appearance in a friendly with Romania and half-time ceremony in June 2011, following his retirement in February. Ronaldo bowed out as the all-time top-scorer in World Cup finals on 15 goals, so which did he play in and won?
Ronaldo attended first World Cup in 1994 but did not play in Brazil win
Ronaldo attended his first World Cup in 1994, but the striker did not play a single second as Brazil won the tournament hosted by the United States. The Selecao had not enjoyed a title since their third triumph in 1970, following previous wins in 1958 and again in 1962.
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Parreira listed Ronaldo among his substitutes in all seven ties as Brazil progressed through the 1994 tournament. Their path included wins over Russia and Cameroon plus a 1-1 draw with Sweden in the group stage, before eliminating the USA, Netherlands and Sweden.
Italy held Brazil to a goalless draw after extra-time during the final in California’s Rose Bowl Stadium. But missed penalties from Franco Baresi, Daniele Massaro and Roberto Baggio saw Arrigo Sacchi’s Azzurri squad return to Europe beaten 3-2 against Parreira’s.
Ronaldo plays in first World Cup in 1998 as France win home event
Ronaldo would make his debut appearance at a World Cup finals in 1998 but could not see Brazil win again. The Selecao made it to back-to-back finals, but lost to host nation France at the Stade de France. A brace from Zidane and Emmanuel Petit gave Les Bleus a 3-0 win.
Selecao boss Mario Zagallo played Ronaldo in all 660 minutes of Brazil’s World Cup in 1998 across seven games. The iconic forward also found the net once in the group stage against Morocco, twice in the last 16 against Chile and once in the semi-final with the Netherlands.
Ronaldo additionally laid on an assist against Morocco and two in the quarter-final against Denmark. His goal against Holland would also have settled the semi-final, but for Patrick Kluivert heading past Claudio Taffarel on 87 minutes to take it to extra-time and penalties.
South Korea and Japan play host as Ronaldo inspires second winners’ medal
South Korea and Japan played host in 2002 as the footballing world convened for the 17th Fifa World Cup. The tournament would end with the Selecao victorious thanks to Ronaldo, who offered a tournament-best eight goals to clinch his nation’s fifth and most recent title.
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Ronaldo inspired Brazil to his second World Cup winners’ medal and the first in which he played over seven appearances. Luiz Felipe Scolari unlocked form unseen from the striker on the global scene previously, with the attacker netting at least once in six of his games.
Turkey, China and Costa Rica twice found Ronaldo scoring against them during the group stage. He also netted once against Belgium in the last 16, Turkey in the semi-final and both in the final to beat Germany 2-0. Only against England in the quarter-final did he not score.
Ronaldo played his last World Cup finals in 2006 as Brazil crumbled
Ronaldo would play in what proved to be his final World Cup in 2006, but Brazil crumbled in Germany as the defending champions. Parreira’s return to the helm could only see the Selecao reach the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 in Frankfurt to France via Thierry Henry.
Parreira started Ronaldo in all five of Brazil’s fixtures, but only saw the attacker score three goals across two games. After recording his only assist against Australia in the group stage, Ronaldo found the net twice to help beat Japan 4-1 and once in the last 16 against Ghana.
France would go on to reach the final in Berlin against Italy, who edged Australia, Ukraine and Germany in the knockout rounds. But Les Bleus could not beat the Azzurri, as Marcello Lippi’s side won their last title on penalties following David Trezeguet missing for France.
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