Ronaldo retires at 34
0 
Brazilian three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, striker Ronaldo, announced his retirement on Monday at the age of 34.
At a press conference here, the all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals, said,"I'm stopping my career as a professional footballer."
"These last two years, I've had a long series of injuries, from one side to the other, one leg to the other, one muscle to the other. The pain pushed me to think about the end of my career."
| ?
|
|
Brazilian striker Ronaldo weeps during a press conference to announce his retirement from soccer at Joaquim Grava training center on February 14, 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. [CFP] |
During a prolific 14-year spell in Europe, Ronaldo scored goals at a prolific rate for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, before returning to Brazil in 2008.
He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, having been a non-playing squad member of the successful 1994 side, and became the leading scorer in World Cup finals when he scored his 15th goal at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
He was twice named European Footballer of the Year, in 1997 and 2002, and finished his international career with 62 goals in 97 appearances.
