After Corinthians' elimination from the Libertadores Cup, Ronaldo admitted on Thursday to be playing with pain. The star striker also insinuated that he is being negatively persecuted by the media.

Visibly emotional after the series loss to Flamengo in the round of 16 of the Libertadores Cup, Ronaldo said that he is playing with continuous pain. The athlete also declared that in no way is he a fan of Flamengo.

"I am 33-year-old. I have gone through eight operations and I feel a lot of pain. Despite my afflictions, I still have to deal with questions about my passion for the game. As long as the fans support me, as long as Corinthians supports me, I will continue to play," described Ronaldo.

Ronaldo expressed his disappointment in his team's elimination from the tournament. However, he expressed his excitement for the prospect of winning the 2010 Brazilian Championship. Additionally, Ronaldo expressed his love and appreciation for not only the fans of Corinthians, but the organization as a whole, believing that the club's centennial year will be special.

Corinthians opens the 2010 Brazilian Championship on May 9 against Atletico-PR at home. Ronaldo intends on beginning the tournament with a strong message, proving the media wrong and showing that he still has a lot of talent left on the field.