The Grim Reaper Swoops In For Ronaldo’s Career

By: chris | February 13th, 2008

Yesterday didn’t start out all that well for The Original Ronaldo. The presses had decided that he’d had enough of the frustrations and was considering retirement altogether. Or moving to dustier pastures in the form of the MLS. There were the expected denials, but the man upstairs obviously had other plans, and if he wasn’t thinking about retirement, he damn sure is now: Left knee, severed tendon, career likely over.

Doubtful there will be any immediate decision on the future (or lack thereof), but it’s impossible not to surmise this is it. This isn’t the first severed tendon he’s had, among all the other, niggling injuries which have forced him to the sidelines. There are plenty of jokes to be made about his frailty, but it’s impossible not to feel bad for him. Ronaldo cried going off the field, having suffered the same injury before and likely understanding the consequences.

Regardless of loyalties, Ronaldo in his prime was something to behold. The guy is/was a gift to football. He was the prototypical striker, with plus-plus attributes scouts drool over. The goal scoring totals, as well as the goals themselves, were mind-boggling.

Even as a fan of a Serie A team which is not Milan, I wanted the Ronaldo of old to come back and raise heartbeats across the globe. So this, and I’m assuming the same can be said for many fans, is a sad day for football. He may come back, but it’s likely, after all of these injuries, he’ll never be the same. And though we haven’t seen vintage Ronaldo for some time, there was at least a glimmer of hope he’d turn football on its head again. That hope is all but gone.

The game highlights are here. His injury is just after the 3:30 mark. (Gianfranco’s recap and thoughts here\.) Below is a little video to remind of what was.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: Serie A

Tags: Livorno, Milan, Ronaldo, Serie A

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Comments  

• ordeal_rules (JCS) |  February 13th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

  
  
  

  Nooooo this was soo sad, poor Ronnie! defenetly the best striker in the past two decades

  Posted from El Salvador

  

• Nolan |  February 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

  
  
  

  I don’t have much sympathy for the man himself, as brilliant of a player as he was (though I personally think Rivaldo was more important to Brazilian football, that’s another topic though), he never achieved much on the club level as he was a mercenary who followed the paychecks, putting Nike and his personal life ahead of his football. Imagine what he could have done had he been a more dedicated player.

  That being said he was one of the greats of our era and the fact this could be it certainly makes me feel old.

  Posted from Canada

  

• MarkoMKD |  February 13th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  
  
  

  OH my God,really bad!!!seriosly,my eyes watered when i saw him cry,it is a shity life really,you struggle,you stuggle and some times there is nothing you can do…I dont have words to say how i feel right now…ONE OF THE TOP 10 OF ALL TIMES,i think,and he always appeared to me like a very funny guy,i laught my ass of when i saw him on the side line with that bungee on his head,HAHAHA,italian style…but…i feel very shity right now…damn,that’s got to hurt,i just want him to be strong,and say that this are the things that life makes to knock you down,but there is where you must find strenght,to be a stronger person…Feel for you Ronie…i really do,but AC will be with him i know that,they know to fight with one of there own…Damn i dont know what to say…this is something that i’ll remember all my life…This guy doesen’t deserve this…and honesty,made me drop a tear…God be with him!FORZA El Fenómeno…u did brought something special to football,and will be remembered!

  Posted from United States

  

• Lisa |  February 14th, 2008 at 1:39 am

  
  
  

  Poor Ronaldo. That’s not the way you want to see anyone go out.

  Posted from Italy

  

• Djoca |  February 14th, 2008 at 6:35 am

  
  
  

  This is terrible. Even he was far away from best form and it is the big question if he was capable to ever again be near his best days, this is not the way to finish one great career. It was very bad decision to put him in the team when he is not fully fit.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ron-Al-Do |  February 14th, 2008 at 6:48 am

  
  
  

  This is a very sad day indeed. I was devastated as he’s my favourite player and I really hope this isn’t the way he has to end his career…

  Posted from Australia

  

• MarkoMKD |  February 14th, 2008 at 8:48 am

  
  
  

  I want to ask,since i’m not sure,Ronie is the Milan squad of called up players for the CL right?I just tought it would be a nice gesture if AC players brought him the CL medal for him,like they will for El Capitano,so can somebody tell me for sure if he is in the players who if AC won.that will gett the medal?Chris,Gianfranco??

  Posted from United States

  

• Michael |  February 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am

  
  
  

  Very sad.

  Posted from United States

  

• greg |  February 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

  
  
  

  that song needs to stop being played behind EVERY SINGLE PLAYER VIDEO.
  good lord.

  Posted from United States

  

• karl |  February 14th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

  
  
  

  very sad day indeed. although i’m no fan of brazil (im a france guy), it’s always a tragedy to see a player of Ronie’s caliber to go out like that.

  you have to admit that any game with him in it is always a game worth watching (if not just to see if he can show us a small flash of brilliance).

  Posted from Philippines

  

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