Ronaldo wasn’t the luckiest, but he definitely was one of the best

Every lover of football has a hero from when they first started watching the great game. I, amongst many others my age, was extremely fortunate to witness the skill, strength, and speed of the Brazilian legend Ronaldo whilst I was growing up. He must have inspired millions of children all over the world to start playing football, and there must be thousands of current professionals who owe a debt of gratitude to Il Fenomeno for educating them on how to play the game properly.

Today, Ronaldo announced his decision to retire from professional football at the age of 34. He had been plying his trade at Brazilian side Corinthians, and was expected to retire at the end of the season, but defeat in the Copa Libertadores (the South American Champions League) has led him to quit the game prematurely. However, his move away from Europe and AC Milan in 2008 was effectively an unspoken retirement. His lack of fitness meant he could no longer perform at the highest level, and the injury he sustained at Milan when jumping for a cross against Livorno was the beginning of the end.

In that match in 2008, Ronaldo ruptured his kneecap ligament, and it was not the first time he had suffered such an injury. On several other occasions earlier in his career, during his time at Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, he was sidelined because of his knees. These injuries have led many to query whether his spells out of football define his career with the question: “what if?”. But as someone who has always admired the many qualities of the Brazilian, I believe that his ability to return from injury on many occasions, at different clubs, in different leagues, and still perform to an incredible standard, make him the most talented footballer of the last twenty years.

He played for four of the greatest and most famous clubs in world football: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, and left his mark on all. My favourite memories of him were whilst he was playing at the Nou Camp at the beginning of his career. Whilst it was only a short spell, some of the goals he scored were beyond belief. At Barca, he scored 47 times in just 49 appearances, and the majority of them were great goals.

He had the knack of getting on the end of a through ball even if the defender had several yards on him; his speed and strength made him resemble a steam train, barging his way through defences. And then when he found himself one on one with the keeper, it was impossible to guess what he would do. Such was his speed, the goalkeeper barely had time to react to a first time strike, and if he chose to round the keeper, his quick feet left his opponent wrong footed and on their backside, watching the ball being rolled into an empty net.

There were headers, penalties, tap-ins, the occasional 25 yard screamer, and he didn’t mind using his left or right foot; both were effective during his glittering spell at Barcelona. That’s not to suggest that when he left the club he didn’t continue in that vein; Inter Milan and Real Madrid benefited greatly from his goals and performances. It’s true that injuries did spoil his time in Milan and Madrid, but the stats confirm his greatness throughout: 59 goals in 99 appearances for Inter, and 104 in 177 for Real, which of course included that famous hat-trick in the quarter final of the Champions League against Manchester United, where the Old Trafford faithful stood and applauded the Brazilian’s performance.

If that wasn’t enough, his CV also boasts 15 World Cup goals, which no other player in history can match: those goals helping his country to lift the trophy on two occasions. Throw in some awards: three time World Player of the Year (only matched by Zinedine Zidane), two time European Player of the Year, the 1998 World Cup Golden Ball, the 2002 World Cup Golden Shoe, and us Brits recognised his qualities as well, awarding him the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

The fact that he achieved so much despite his injuries, highlight what a phenomenon he really was. Of course people will ask the question, “What if?”, but Ronaldo should not be looked back on by questioning what he could have achieved. He was unlucky with injuries, and quite possibly made bad decisions when choosing clubs, but judge him by what he did on the pitch, which was sensational. At the end of Messi’s career, will people question his greatness if he fails to win a World Cup with Argentina? There seems to be a criteria that has to be matched in order for a footballer to be given legendary status, but like all professions, an element of luck aids great success. Ronaldo wasn’t the luckiest, but he definitely was one of the best - a legend.