Ronaldo

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (Rio de Janeiro Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁo̞ˈnau̯du luˈiʒ nɐˈzaɾju dʒⁱ ˈɫimɐ]; born 18 September 1976) is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is considered by experts and fans as one of the greatest football players of all time. In 2012, he was voted Goal.com's "Player of the Decades" in an online poll, gathering 29.55% of all votes. He won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997 and won the award again in 2002. He is one of only three men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times, along with Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi.

Considered by many as the most complete striker in the past 30 years, in 2007, he was named as one of the best starting 11 of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by Pelé. In 2010, he was voted Goal.com's "Player of the Decade" in an online poll, gathering 43.63 percent of all votes and was also included as centre forward in the "Team of the Decade".^[5] On 23 February 2010, Ronaldo announced that he would retire after the 2011 season, signing a two-year contract extension with the Corinthians at the same time.

Ronaldo has played for Brazil in 98 international matches, scoring 62 goals. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller's previous record of 14. He is the only player to have won the World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Boot in separate tournaments. Having suffered a string of serious injuries throughout his career, Ronaldo retired on 14 February 2011, citing pain and hypothyroidism as the reasons for his premature retirement.

Pelé

Edison Arantes do Nascimento also known as Pelé was one of the greatest football players ever. Pelé started playing football at Bauru FC where he was trained by former international Waldemar de Brito. Soon all great clubs of Brazil were after him. He choice for de Brito´s former club Santos FC were he made his debut at age 15. Pelé made his debut at the World Cup with Brazil in 1958, at only 17 years of age. He became the youngest player ever to score a goal at the World Cup by scoring the decisive goal against Wales in the quarterfinals at 17 years and 239 days. In the semifinals he scored a hat-trick against France in a match that Brazil would win with 5-2. In the final against Sweden Pelé scored another goal in the 5-2 victory. Brazil became World Champion and Pelé was the greatest revelation of the tournament.

At Santos Pelé dominated the Brazilian League by winning the Brazilian national championship five times in a row from 1961 to 1965. He won the Copa Libertadores(South American Champions League) in 1962 and 1963 and the 1962 Intercontinental Cup by beating Eusebio's Benfica with 5-2, Pelé scoring a hat-trick.


In Brazil's first match of the 1962 World Cup against Mexico, Pelé assisted the first goal and scored the second goal. It looked like it was going to be Pelé's tournament again, but it wasn't. Pelé was hiding a groin injury to keep playing, but this became visible at Brazil's second match against Czechoslovakia. Pelé had just shot on the post and tried to shoot the reflected ball but injured himself. He was forced off for the rest of the tournament, despite that Brazil won the tournament due to a great Garrincha.


It was the 1966 FIFA World Cup, held in England. Pelé was back without injury and scored in his first match against Bulgaria, Brazil won but Pelé had been brutally fouled by the Bulgarian defenders and could not play the second match against Hungary. Brazil lost his second match and Pelé was forced to come back and play the decisive match against Portugal. Pelé was fouled again by the Portuguese players. However it was the foul João Maorais made on him that injured him. Pelé limped on the field for the rest of the game and Brazil lost with 3-1.


Pelé played his last World Cup in 1970 at age 29. Pelé scored one goal in Brazil´s first match against Czechoslovakia which was won with 4-1. Pelé nearly scored with a header against England but Gordon Banks saved spectacularly. Against Romania Pelé scored twice in the 3-0 victory against Romania and Brazil was is in the quarterfinals. They won the quarterfinal against Peru with 4-2, Pelé did not score. In the 3-1 victory against Uruguay in the semifinals Pelé was involved with the last 2 goals. Brazil dominated the final against Italy, Pelé opened the score with a header 1-0. The match was won with 4-1, the final goal being one of the most famous goals, showing Brazil's class at that World Cup. Pelé became the only player ever who won the World Cup thrice.

Pelé ended his career in the US at the New York Cosmos as a "ambassador for football". He remains one of the greatest players ever. He was great in all aspects of the game, he was great in heading, dribbling but above all shooting the ball with both legs. This is why he scored more than 1200 goals.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre), commonly known as Ronaldinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu]) or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro and for the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year. He won the award in both 2004 and 2005.

"Ronaldinho", the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo", is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho", in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.

Prior to his move to Flamengo, he played for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Barcelona and A.C. Milan. With the Spanish club, he won his first Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007.

He was also named in the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by fellow countryman Pelé, and in the FIFPro World XI consecutively from 2004–2007.

Ronaldinho has been described as being "skilful by nature, his tricks are unparalleled and he is wonderful with the ball at his feet. One of the coolest players in pressure situations" and a "fast, brash, skilful, tricky, an uninhibited playmaker" who provides "a mix of goals, assists, skills and a large repertoire of crafty moves." Former Portugal midfielder, Rui Costa, has said of him: "There are not many players who can offer goalscoring passes like he can. He is just marvellous. He is a rare case of an assist man who can provide the ball from anywhere."



Everyone was surprised at Gremio de Porto Alegre when Ronaldo Assis de Moreira presented himself in the team's junior divisions. Tall and lanky, the kid that would later be known to the world as Ronaldinho surprised everyone with a mix of goals, skills and a large repertoire of crafty moves.
Two years later he was making his debut with the club's senior team, with which he would become champion of the Rio Grande do Sul tournament in a performance that made him one of the most outstanding players of his team: he scored 15 goals in 14 games. Paris Saint Germain got his services and with them Ronaldinho made his debut in the European game. In the meantime, he was world champion with the national team in 2002, but with his French club he was unable to develop properly, and after several seasons he moved to Barcelona. There, the best version of the Brazilian player came through: he won two Liga titles and became the undisputed idol of the club, a condition that he later validated by winning the UEFA Champions League. After the arrival of Pep Guardiola at the helm of the team, Ronaldinho stopped being considered for the first-team. His poor performances, his lack of training discipline and frequent injuries, some of them regarded as doubtful by the club's management, ended up making him leave Barcelona. AC Milan was his destination, but he lasted less than three years at the club before heading back to Brazil to play for Flamengo in Janury 2011.

Strengths: Skillful by nature, his tricks are unparalleled and he is wonderful with the ball at his feet. One of the coolest players in pressure situations.

Weaknesses: His off-pitch problems hindered his development and he has lost the pace that made him most dangerous.

Career high: Picking up two World Player of the Year awards in two years, 2004 and 2005.

Career low: His exit from Barcelona and his difficult adaptation to Italian soccer was the worst moment of his career.

Style: Brash, skilful, tricky, an uninhibited playmaker.

Quotes: "There are not many players who can offer goalscoring passes like he can. He is just marvellous. He is a rare case of an assist man who can provide the ball from anywhere." Former Milan and Portugal midfielder Rui Costa.

Trivia: Ronaldinho became a player for Gremio following the advice of his older brother Roberto, who suffered a serious injury and was forced to quit