Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima1 was born on 22 September 1976 in a poor suburb of Rio de Janeiro2. Like most of his childhood friends, Ronaldo began his soccer career playing barefoot in the streets of his neighborhood. At the age of 14, he joined S?o Cristov?o3 soccer club and only two years later became the star of Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte4 scoring a total of 58 goals in 60 matches and earning himself a reputation for his explosive5 pace and outstanding finishing skills. His goal-scoring record and unusual agility6 led him to be included in the Brazilian World Cup winning team the following year. After the World Cup, many top European football clubs were trying to sign him. Many people, including Brazilian football legend 　Pelé7, 　referred to him as the most promising8 footballer of his generation.

    Since his transfer to Dutch team PSV Eindhoven9, Ronaldo s biography10 is one of success after success. Two Copa América s11, a UEFA12 Cup, a Dutch Cup, a Spanish League Cup, and two awards as best player in the world, all in the space of two years, are some of Ronaldo s impressive13 achievements. On arrival to Inter-Milan in 1997, Ronaldo became the idol14 of the local fans who refer to him as “il Fenomeno15.”

    Since the 98 World Cup he has suffered two serious knee injuries that have severely limited his appearances. Just when people began to wonder whether Ronaldo would be able to continue with his football career, he proved to the world that he still could play. In the World Cup held in Korea and Japan, the magical striker16 won the Golden Shoe award and tied Pele s Brazilian record for career World Cup goals with 12. He helped Brazil capture17 its fifth World Cup championship on June 30 with a 2-0 win over Germany. It was the third time that Ronaldo has ever played in the World Cup. 

    羅納爾多1976年9月22日出生在里約熱內盧的貧困郊區。像多數童年的伙伴一樣，他的足球生涯是從小區的街道上赤腳踢球開始的。14歲的時候，他加盟圣克里斯托旺足球俱樂部，僅僅兩年后他就成長為克魯塞羅俱樂部的明星，60場比賽進了58粒球，快捷有力的步伐和非凡的射門技巧令其名聲大噪。第二年，他射門得分的紀錄以及超凡的敏捷使他入選巴西國家隊參加世界杯。世界杯結束后，許多歐洲頂級足球俱樂部都削尖腦袋想同他簽約。許多人，包括巴西傳奇人物貝利，都認為他是同代人中最有希望的足球運動員。

    自從轉會到荷蘭的埃因霍溫足球俱樂部后，羅納爾多取得了一次又一次的成功：兩次美洲杯冠軍、一次歐洲足協聯盟杯冠軍、一次荷蘭杯冠軍、一次西班牙聯賽冠軍、兩次獲得世界最佳球員獎，所有這一切都是在短短兩年內取得的。1997年，他一到國際米蘭隊，就成為當地球迷心中的偶像，被稱為“奇才”。

    自1998年世界杯以來，羅納爾多經歷了兩次嚴重的膝傷，這極大地限制了他上場踢球的時間。正當人們懷疑他是否能繼續踢球的時候，他向全世界證明他風采依舊。在韓日舉行的世界杯上，這位神奇的前鋒獲得金靴獎，以12粒進球平了貝利創造的世界杯進球紀錄。他幫助巴西隊在6月30日的比賽中以2比0的比分戰勝了德國隊，從而第五次獲得世界杯冠軍。這也是羅納爾多第三次參加世界杯。