Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima was born on September 18 1976 in Rio de Janeiro. As with many former Brazil stars, including the great Pele, Ronaldo got his first taste of football playing on the streets. At the age of 14, he trained for a year with Social Ramos Youth Club in an attempt to play in more organised matches.
But it was at his next youth team, São Cristovão, where he would really start to make a name for himself. He was rejected by Flamengo, the team he grew up supporting, but was spotted by former Seleção legend Jairzinho, who won the World Cup in 1970 and recommended Ronaldo to one of his former clubs, Cruzeiro.
Ronaldo signed with the club in 1993 at the age of 16 and quickly set about fulfilling his potential. During his time there, Cruzeiro won their first Copa do Brasil in 1993, and a year later, the Campeonato Mineiro. It was began a great period of success for the team, as they would go on to win at least one trophy a year until 2005.
As for Ronaldo himself, he began to attract the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He scored 12 goals in 13 games in his only Brasileirão season at Cruzeiro, and had been top scorer at the 1992 South American Youth Championship, netting eight times during the tournament.
His abilities did not go unnoticed by the senior team manager Carlos Alberto Parreira, and he made his debut for the Seleção in 1994 against Argentina. What was more of a shock was when he made the World Cup squad, alongside such stars as Dunga, Bebeto and Romario. Brazil won the competition, but Ronaldo did not make it off the bench.
After the World Cup, and having scored 22 goals in the State Championship, Ronaldo’s time in Brazil came to an end, as Cruzeiro accepted a bid of $6 million from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. His total record in all competitions for his first professional club was 44 goals in 46 matches.
Check back at Sambafoot tomorrow, when we continue our look at Ronaldo’s career with his time in the Netherlands.
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