Ronaldo, the retired Brazilian football star, has an estimated net worth of $160 million. Known by his nicknames “R9” or “O Fenomeno” (The Phenomenon), he made a huge impact in football during his brief career. His ability to score goals led Brazil to a World Cup win in 2002, and he is credited with transforming the role of strikers in the game. In his prime, Ronaldo was considered the best player in the world and remains one of the greatest to ever play the sport.
He won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times and received the Ballon d’Or twice. Ronaldo holds the record as the youngest ever Ballon d’Or recipient, winning the award at just 21 years old, and he also became the youngest player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year at age 20. He was a valuable asset for clubs, often commanding record-breaking transfer fees, with two world-record transfers during his career.
Ronaldo is among the highest-scoring players in football history, netting 62 goals for Brazil, with only Pele having scored more for the national team. At 23, he had already scored 200 goals for both club and country. However, his career was cut short due to a series of serious injuries, and he quickly faded from the game after making such an impressive mark.
Following his retirement, Ronaldo shifted his focus to charity, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. He also served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In 2018, he bought a controlling stake in the Spanish club Real Valladolid, and later in 2021, he acquired a controlling interest in the Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
Early Life
Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima was born on September 18, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Growing up with two siblings, he played soccer in the streets of Rio from a young age. After his parents’ divorce when he was 11, Ronaldo dropped out of school to pursue a football career. He started playing futsal (indoor soccer), where he became the top scorer in the local league, tallying 166 goals in his first season. Futsal played a significant role in shaping Ronaldo’s technical skills and close ball control, which would later define his footballing success. His talent soon caught the attention of sports agents.
Career
Ronaldo began his professional career in 1993 with Brazilian club Cruzeiro. At just 16 years old, he scored five goals in one match, gaining international attention. He finished his first season with an impressive 44 goals in 47 games, which earned him a spot on Brazil’s 1994 World Cup squad, although he didn’t play during the tournament.
After the World Cup, Ronaldo moved to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. In his first season, he scored 30 goals, and many began to see him as a potential future football legend despite being only 18. Unfortunately, an injury sidelined him during his second season. In 1996, he joined Barcelona for a then-record transfer fee of $19.5 million. In his only season with Barcelona, he scored 47 goals across all competitions and was awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year.
Ronaldo continued to make waves in his career when he moved to Inter Milan in 1997, again breaking the transfer record with a $27 million fee. Although he initially struggled with the Italian playing style, he developed into a complete striker, winning his first Ballon d’Or.
During the 1998 World Cup, Ronaldo starred as Brazil’s main striker. He scored consistently throughout the tournament but faced a setback just before the final when he suffered a seizure. Although he played in the final, his performance was affected, and Brazil lost to France. Later, doctors confirmed that he should not have played while experiencing the effects of a seizure.
Ronaldo’s career was plagued by knee injuries, including a complete rupture of his kneecap tendons in 2000, which kept him sidelined for nearly three years. However, he returned in 2002 and helped Brazil secure another World Cup win. That same year, he signed with Real Madrid for €46 million. Despite his injuries and ongoing weight struggles, Ronaldo remained a key player for the club.
Ronaldo’s time at Real Madrid was marred by continuous physical setbacks, and after his final World Cup appearance in 2006, he transferred to A.C. Milan in 2007. After suffering yet another knee injury in 2008, he joined Corinthians, where he played until his retirement in 2011. Ronaldo eventually revealed that he had hyperthyroidism, which contributed to his weight issues. He admitted that while he had the mental desire to continue, his body could no longer withstand the injuries.
Nike Contract
In 1996, Ronaldo signed a 10-year contract with Nike, worth $180 million. This agreement included a lifetime endorsement deal. Nike also designed the iconic Mercurial R9 boots for Ronaldo, which he wore during the 1998 World Cup. The Mercurial boots became extremely popular, and Nike continued to release similar boots for players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. Ronaldo also appeared in numerous Nike commercials throughout the years.
Other Brand Endorsements
Apart from Nike, Ronaldo appeared in commercials for other major brands, including Snickers and Pirelli. He was also a prominent figure in the EA Sports FIFA video game series, lending his image to several editions of the popular franchise.
Club Ownership
In 2018, Ronaldo made a significant move into football club ownership by purchasing a controlling stake in La Liga’s Real Valladolid. He paid approximately 30 million Euros for a 51% share of the club. Ronaldo expressed his commitment to his new role, aiming to build a top team. In December 2021, Ronaldo purchased a controlling stake in Cruzeiro, the club where he began his football journey, for 400 million reais ($70 million at the time).
Personal Life
Ronaldo’s personal life has been quite eventful. He met model Susana Werner in 1997, and they had a long-term relationship. In 1999, he married footballer Milene Domingues, with whom he had his first son, but they divorced after four years. In 2005, Ronaldo became engaged to model Daniela Cicarelli, though the relationship ended after just three months. In 2008, he got engaged to Maria Beatriz Antony, and together they had two daughters. In 2010, a paternity test confirmed he was the father of a boy, Alexander, born from a brief relationship with Michele Umezu, a Brazilian waitress he met in Tokyo in 2002. After this revelation, Ronaldo had a vasectomy.
