THE BUZZ FROM BRAZIL
Giant pictures of Ronaldo, the most-worried- about man in a traumatized Brazil, smiled down as usual Thursday from advertising billboards in which the soccer star mimics the pose of a landmark Christ statue on a mountaintop in Rio de Janeiro.
But the real Ronaldo was not smiling. He was last seen Wednesday speeding away from reporters in a blue Mercedes-Benz and climbing into a helicopter with his actress fiancee headed for a secret destination, reputedly an exclusive island resort near Rio.
Meanwhile, Brazilians were reacting to the still-murky story of Ronaldo’s literal and figurative collapse in France’s 3-0 upset of Brazil in the World Cup final Sunday as if it were the second Crucifixion. Ever since the revelation that his pallid performance resulted from an attack of convulsions of uncertain origin that sent him to the hospital hours before game time, Brazil has been convulsed by debate, accusations and rumors.
The global cult of stardom that was on the verge of bestowing the title of the world’s greatest soccer player on Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima, a likable 21-year-old from the Rio slums, appears to have overwhelmed him.
“I never experienced anything like that. I really felt bad,” a somber Ronaldo told a Brazilian reporter in one of his few public statements after Sunday’s debacle. “I may not have won the World Cup, but I won the cup of life.”
A few soccer enthusiasts echoed the rather cruel opinion of teammate Roberto Carlos: that Ronaldo “chickened out.” But most expressed sympathy and concern about his psychological and physical health.
“I was disappointed,” said Denis Fernandes, a garbage collector. “And I think everyone was asking too much from Ronaldo.”
The saga features more confusion than facts. On Thursday, a medical review board asked team doctor Lidio Toledo to clarify his diagnosis. Earlier this week, Toledo reversed his original opinion that Ronaldo suffered an attack of severe stress. Instead, Toledo now says he believes an epileptic or neurological disorder could be to blame, O Globo newspaper reported Thursday.
“Until now, it is a convulsive crisis without a diagnosed cause,” Toledo told reporters. “Stress was not the cause.”
Although French doctors who examined Ronaldo before the game have been quoted as saying epilepsy is unlikely, Toledo has asked Ronaldo to undergo a battery of tests. He also said Ronaldo took anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause convulsions, weeks ago. But he angrily denied having given the star any injections; a theory on the street is that team officials pumped the injury-hobbled Ronaldo with medications.
“That would be unethical,” Toledo declared.
The Ronaldo episode has given ammunition to Brazilians who were absolutely convinced of victory. Toledo and Mario Zagallo, the team coach, have felt the weight of the disbelief, sorrow and rage that erupted here when Brazil lost the Cup and its shot at the title of five-time champion.
Toledo and Zagallo are criticized for letting Ronaldo take the field, though the star said he felt better and wanted to play. Nike and the Brazilian soccer federation have denied accusations that they recklessly pressured Ronaldo into the starting lineup because of the multimillion-dollar endorsement money on the line.
And teammates made it clear that the Ronaldo crisis only exacerbated bickering on a team that was divided by nasty arguments Sunday and in previous days.
Some fans blame Ronaldo’s teammates for the loss.
“Ronaldo got sick, but what I am furious about is where were the other 10 players?” exclaimed a visibly upset Bluma Nubrega, a fan interviewed on the street. “Everyone blames Ronaldo, but the rest of the team had the obligation to sweat blood!”
Team members put up a united facade this week when they were welcomed by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in Brasilia, the capital. All eyes were on Ronaldo; commentators said he looked unsteady and tired getting off the plane.
The star then hurried to his parents’ condominium in an upscale beach neighborhood of Rio. He dutifully gave a few autographs to fans but avoided the hordes of the press.
“He just wants to be in peace with his true friends,” said older sister Ione Lima. She added that her muscular brother, who is big for a soccer player, has always been very healthy. “That’s why he got so scared after the convulsions. He thought he was going to die.”
Ronaldo’s stardom will not die, though it has been dented. Brazilians remain remarkably supportive of the millionaire sensation who, for whatever reason, fizzled at the moment of truth.
In an unabashedly corny column Thursday in O Globo, novelist Roberto Drummond called Ronaldo a “soccer Cinderella.”
“They wanted to make you like a Robo-Cop, a goal-scoring and money-making machine,” Drummond wrote. “Open your golden cage, caged bird, and sing your song of freedom again.”
Times researcher Paula Gobbi contributed to this story from Rio de Janeiro.
