Ronaldo - Real Madrid: Can he win the 2006 World Cup for Brazil?

Early 2006 World Cup betting odds had Brazil listed at 3.75 odds to win it all and Ronaldo Luiz Nazário de Lima (simply known as Ronaldo) is a primary reason why.  One of the world's best strikers, On June 2 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick for Brazil against archrivals Argentina in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2006 World Cup on June 2 2004. He scored all of Brazil's goals in a 3-1 win from penalties.

In 1993, aged sixteen, Ronaldo had already scored 59 goals in 57 matches for Brazil's under-17 squad. By 1994 he had joined the squad of the national team, but didn't get to play a single minute on the pitch of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

In 1996–1997, Ronaldo played arguably his best season, scoring numerous spectacular goals for FC Barcelona. One of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of the most amazing goals in football.

Voted the World's best player in 1996 and 1997, he had a disappointing performance during the 1998 World Cup, scoring only four goals, and Brazil lost the final to the hosts France after he suffered a mysterious fit the night before. The circumstances of the fit remain unclear and a source of speculation.

He then moved to a club he considered more promising and more respected: Inter Milan. Fans all over the world now began to follow the club and Ronaldo's fame continued to grow.

In April 1999, Ronaldo married Milene Domingues. The marriage lasted four years and ended in a divorce.

A year later, he severely injured his right knee and was out of the game for several months. During his first comeback in 2000, he managed to play a few minutes during a league game against Lazio before injuring his knee for a second time.

After two operations and twenty months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo managed a comeback during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals during the tournament (and tied with Pelé for a Brazilian record 12 total World Cup goals), leading Brazil to win an unprecedented fifth World Championship. In 2002, he was awarded the title of the World's best soccer player for the third time, and transferred from Inter Milan to Real Madrid after frequent disputes with Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper.

In February 2005 he married Brazilian model and MTV VJ Daniela Cicarelli. One month later she got pregnant but, unfortunately, she lost her baby. In the following month they separated.

Brazil is the 2006 World Cup favorite at press time.

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Gambling911.com News Wire

Originally published December 3, 2005 10:20 pm EST

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