Brazil’s Ronaldo Ready to Silence His Critics Again

Ronaldo approaches the 2006 World Cup in one of the worst slumps of his career. Fans have been jeering him and commentators have been criticizing him. Even the great Pele has hit out at him.

But as far as Ronaldo is concerned, everything is just fine.

“I’ve been faced with tough challenges my entire career,” he said. “But now I know that I’m strong enough to overcome them. I’m certain that I’ll be well prepared for the World Cup.”

Ronaldo was going through a similar slump before the 2002 World Cup because of a serious knee injury that nearly ended his career. Many doubted he would play at a high level again, but he recovered quite nicely -- as the key player in Brazil’s run to win a fifth title in Japan and South Korea.

Four years later, as Brazil goes for its second consecutive championship, Ronaldo is dealing with the same type of criticism.

The striker has become an easy target after an injury-plagued season in which he scored only five goals in Real Madrid’s first 19 matches.

Pele suggested Ronaldo’s career was being affected by off-field problems, including a divorce last year barely three months after being married to a Brazilian model and television hostess.

French star Michel Platini recently said Ronaldo “has too many years” and is “carrying too many kilos.”

The 29-year-old Ronaldo was struck hard by the criticism -- to the point of calling Pele a “cheap opportunist” and considering leaving Real Madrid -- but he insisted it would not affect his play in Germany.

“The World Cup is my greatest motivation,” Ronaldo said. “I’m not going to worry about what the critics are talking about me, I don’t need that.”

Ronaldo isn’t the only one thinking he can rebound in the 2006 tournament. Some of those supporting the striker in recent months include former star players Romario and Diego Maradona, and even Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wrote a letter of encouragement to Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody,” said his teammate and two-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldinho. “We need him, just as he needs us.”

Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is another unconditional backer of Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo still is one of the greatest strikers in the world,” Parreira said recently. “He will be ready to play in the World Cup.”

Most Brazilian fans remain behind Ronaldo, as well. And there’s plenty of reason for that, because Ronaldo’s numbers with Brazil are more than impressive:

* In 97 matches with Ronaldo on the field, Brazil has lost only eight times.

* He is the nation’s greatest scorer in World Cups with 12 goals, tied with Pele.

* Three goals in Germany would make Ronaldo the tournament’s leading scorer. He has two goals fewer than Gerd Muller of Germany and one fewer than Just Fontaine of France.

* Ronaldo also could equal Pele’s feat as a three-time World Cup winner. Despite being only 17, he was a member of Brazil’s team that, led by Romario, won the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

He was making history even before then as a regular starter for Brazil’s Cruzeiro, where he once scored five goals in a Brazilian league match. He averaged nearly a goal per match in his first season with the Brazilian club as a 16-year-old.

Ronaldo was sold from Cruzeiro to PSV Eindhoven for $6 million after the 1994 World Cup, and in 1996 he was acquired for $20 million by FC Barcelona, where he earned his first and second player of the year awards.

Ronaldo was transferred to Italy’s Inter Milan after the 1997 season, and in 2002 -- when he won his third player of the year award -- he moved to Real Madrid in a deal worth $56 million.

He was playing for Inter in 2000 when he injured his knee, which kept him off the field for more than 17 months.

Ronaldo’s latest injury isn’t nearly as serious. A muscle ailment during Spanish league play kept him sidelined for most of April. But Parreira already has guaranteed his spot on the roster for Germany.

Ronaldo’s place in the starting lineup is not as secure, however. He faces strong competition from several countrymen, including Adriano and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid teammate Robinho, who will be making his first World Cup appearance.

“I just want Brazil to win the title,” Ronaldo said. “Everything else doesn’t matter as much.”