Rare Photos of Brazil Soccer Great Ronaldo

Ronaldo scored the second most goals (15) all time in the FIFA World Cup, won two World Cup titles and was a three-time FIFA player of the year. As Ronaldo, considered by many to be one of the greatest players of all time, celebrates his 41st birthday on Sept. 22, 2017, we present these rare photos of the Brazilian striker.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 18, 2011

Rare Photos of Brazil Soccer Great Ronaldo

Ronaldo chose to join PSV after the 1994 World Cup, for which he was selected despite being just 17, but did not play. Ronaldo scored 30 league goals in his first season in the Netherlands.

Ronaldo presents his FC Barcelona jersey to fellow Brazilian Alex Barros at the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelone in 1996. This was only the beginning of Ronaldo's interest in racing. Since 2005, Ronaldo has been the co-owner of A1 Team Brazil, a Brazilian Grand Prix racing team.

Ronaldo of Barcellona is escorted by Italian policemen out of Pisa's airport in 1997. Barcellona played Fiorentina of Florence in a Champion's League semifinal soccer match held in Florence.

Ronaldo cuddles up to former girlfriend Susana Werner in 1997.

1998-0511-Pope-John-Paul-II-Ronaldo-mother-Sonia-Nazario-De-Lima.jpg — Arturo Mari/AP

Ronaldo, accompanied by his mother, Sonia Nazario De Lima, presents Pope John Paul II with a Brazilian national team jersey and an Inter Milan jersey at the Vatican in 1998.

French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez charges into Ronaldo during the 1998 World Cup final between France and Brazil. France won 3-0.

Ronaldo stands dejected after the 1998 World Cup final with his silver medal.

Ronaldo gives the thumbs-up on a tour of the falls at Foz do Iguacu National Park, Brazil, in June 1999. The Brazilian national soccer team was training nearby in preparation for the Copa America tournament.

Rivaldo and Ronaldo lounge by the pool in Buenos Aires. The two played on the Brazil national team from 1994 to 2003 and the tandem scored 96 goals in 171 combined appearances.

Ronald and his then wife, former Brazilian soccer player Milen Domingues, make a toast during their wedding in 1999.

Ronaldo tries his hand at golf during the 2001 Pro-Am at the Brazilian Open in San Paolo.

F1 racer Michael Schumacher of Germany douses Ronaldo with champagne after a friendly match for UNICEF in Rio de Janeiro in 2001.

Ronaldo, sporting his famous triangle haircut, celebrates on the pitch after Brazil beat Germany 2-0 to win its fifth World Cup in 2002.

Ronaldo honors Brazil in the 2004 Olympics by carrying the Olympic Torch through Rio de Janeiro.

Ronaldo celebrates with Real Madrid teammate David Beckham after he scored a goal during their La Liga match against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2004.

Ronaldo, donning a sleek pinstripe suit, attends the GQ Awards 2004 in Madrid with his then girlfriend Daniela Cicarelli.

Real Madrid's Ronaldo and David Beckham chat during a lunch in 2004.

Brazilian soccer fans will forever remember Ronaldo (pictured here in 2005) for his fun-loving antics, dominant scoring ability, mesmerizing dribbling skills and leadership on two World Cup-winning teams.

Ronaldo joined AC Milan, the sixth of his seven career teams, in February 2007. Here, he poses with AC-Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Ronaldo joined the Corinthians in March 2009. The stint was the last professional team of his soccer career. After the Corinthians were eliminated from the 2011 Copa Libertadores de America, Ronaldo announced his retirement while citing nagging injuries that have stalled his career.

Daniel Augusto Jr/Agencia Corinthians/Getty Images

Ronaldo presents Hugh Jackman with a Corinthians jersey embroidered with the name Wolverine and the number 'X' to promote Jackman's movie 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.'

In a long standing soccer tradition, Ronaldo exchanges his Corinthian's jersey with Israel's president Shimon Peres' Israel national soccer team jersey.

Ronaldo joins Rogerio Flausino of Jota Quest, a Brazilian rock band, on stage at the Monange Dream Fashion Tour in Rio de Janeiro in April 2010.

Ronaldo leaves Nello's restaurant on the Upper East Side of New York City in 2011.

ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Michael Phelps, Natalis Chan and Ronaldo attend a press conference at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou, China, in 2012.

Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images

Ronaldo Nazario de Lima and then girlfriend Paula Morais walk along the streets of Madrid in 2013.

Ronaldo attends the 2013 European Poker Tour in Barcelona.

Ronaldo waves from a float as he takes part in Gavioes da Fiel samba school performance during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in March 2014. Gavioes da Fiel's theme for the carnival was an homage to Ronaldo.