November 15, 2022 • 26 mins
Breathe. In. Out. That's what Ronaldo Nazário couldn't do during a seizure that nearly took his life and robbed Brazil of a World Cup.
This is the O.G. Ronaldo. You know, the guy who had a seizure and appeared out of sorts a few hours later in the biggest game of his career. The guy who blew out his knee and missed most of the next four years to injury before coming back to finally claim the biggest prize in the sport: the World Cup. This is the story of Ronaldo, the demi-god of goals.
The Best Soccer Podcast In The World is a bilingual podcast that tells your soon-to-be favorite soccer stories. The host, Nando Vila, will crack open some of the most iconic World Cup moments, putting them in cultural and geopolitical contexts. From legendary players to silly hairdos to heart-wrenching losses.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
In soccer, the best, most efficient form of myth making
happens at the FIFA World Cup. It's been this way
since nineteen thirty and every four years since. The World
Cup has grown into a behemoth since that time, with
a global audience of three point five billion people. That's
right billion with a B. That's a third of the
(00:26):
world turning into the crescendo of its most popular sport.
I've been a soccer fan since the day I was born,
when my dad made me a card carrying socio of
Real Madrid. In the decades since, I've woken up at
all hours to watch laggy, illegal streams and now CRISP
four K broadcasts of games. I treked around South Africa
(00:49):
to watch my country, Spain finally win the World Cup.
Been two thousand and ten. I'm Nando Vila and this
is the best soccer podcast in the world, a new
show that tells stories that spill well beyond the field,
from legendary players to silly hairdos to heart wrenching finals.
Here on the best soccer podcast in the world, We're
(01:11):
going to relive all of the most iconic World Cup
moments throughout soccer's extensive history. Alone goes with him. But
it's still Ronaldo, Yes, wanted to say, wonderful. I never
(01:40):
sink take a breath Soccer, like all of existence comes
(02:03):
down to just a series of breaths in out goal
save No. One's career was defined by breaths as much
as Ronaldo Nazario Dalima, the steady sniper exhales while shooting
the puffed out cheeks as he turned on the afterburners
to power past his marker yet again. The pause just
(02:26):
before the finish and now the breakout is all let
bike do Gary and Brazil struck me to get cracked.
Vi Era vanielt today many day high break citizen Paris,
But welcome Mr pros and those few cursed gasps. When
(02:46):
he couldn't breathe during a seizure that nearly took his
life and robbed Brazil of a World Cup, I had conversion,
and I was saying for three or four minutes, you
string all those breaths together and you have a career
A player who could literally take your breath away when
he was at full sprint. In a few short years,
(03:07):
he transformed himself from Ronaldinho as he was known when
he was a youngster to el phenomenon, the nickname he's
most remembered by. It's hard to describe just how good
Ronaldo was in his prime. Ronaldo was one of soccer's
chosen ones. Regardless of the many matches he missed through injury.
What would he have become without all those lengthy setbacks?
(03:29):
And perhaps the most tantalizing question, what would have happened
had he not collapsed before that final? When you're there
and you believe the competition, it's a lot of oppression.
Doctors called me in to another room and that will
not play, and I say, no, it's not possible. I
(03:51):
want to play. It is, without a doubt, one of
soccer's greatest mysteries. Ronaldo's story feels like it was scripted
by soccer's best screenwriter, his tail tying together the bitterness
of his injuries and the suffering required to overcome them,
driven forward by his love of the goal. Ronaldo want
to run. This is danger, Ronaldo into the area. Naldo,
(04:14):
how does he do that? The drama of defeat deepened
by the mystery of an episode that to this day
remains unexplained, and sure why not? The eventual redemption that
every hero deserves. Today we bring you the story of
a striker who was half man, replete with mistakes, carnal
sins and physical frailty, and half God, given his otherworldly
(04:36):
ability to score without further ado, we give you Ronaldo,
the Demigod of goals. The way that he played was
one of pure joy. I was with him a few
months ago at a FIFA event and he has not
lost that, that joy of life. And while there was
(05:00):
you know, certainly a a machine like moment to him,
he would try stuff and try stuff that others wouldn't
even think to try, and also have the audacity the
goal and the confidence that it was going to work out.
This is Alexei Lawless, a former player for the US
men's national team and now a pundit for Fox Sports.
(05:22):
The difference between him is not only did he try stuff,
but he saw things that others wouldn't see. He tried
things that others wouldn't try, and more often than not
it worked out well and he was successful when others
would fail, and that, you know, that's what made him great.
But he did it with you know, he did it
with just a beauty but also just there was just
(05:46):
there was love and there was romance in the way
that that he's slalomed and his balance and his shifting
of his weight. Um, it was beautiful. But Sado got
his start with Sukari Stival, where he was discovered by Zadezine,
one of the best right wingers of all time and
a key figure on the legendary nineteen seventy Brazil national team.
(06:06):
Jazino spotted a talented kid from the club's youth system
and promoted him. Ronaldo, who was known as Ronaldinho at
that point, soaked up wisdom from his mentor. One of
the most renowned teams in Brazil, Group Crusado, snapped him up.
He made a difference in the from the very beginning.
(06:30):
His outstanding displays and his consistent scoring naturally drew the
attention of the man in charge of the Brazilian national team.
At seventeen years old, Ronaldo was living the dream he
would represent the most legendary national team During the nineteen
ninety four USA World Cup, and even though he didn't
(06:51):
play a single minute, Ronaldo participated in the collective success
as Brazil conquered the world to win the Cup for
the fourth time. Who has to score, really has bought
a team to the part even if he didn't play
(07:16):
in the in the Cup. This is Daniel Edwards, a
writer covering South American soccer for Goal, among other places.
He was already making a lot of headlines before the
World Cup. He had a ridiculous scoring record for Crusader
and then after the Cup he catches the eye of
(07:37):
PSV in the Netherlands. Guys over there he was still
on the eighteen nineteen years old came under the wing
of Bobby Robson, the late Bobby Robson, one of one
of the most revered coaches in English football. Ronaldo did
serve Ronaldo and after two wonderful season is playing for
(08:00):
ps VH Eindhoven, where he scored fifty four goals in
fifty seven games. He arrived in Barcelona for the seven season.
This was the start of his meteoric rise to the
very top of global soccer. He's going all the way.
Oh good, dismay, it's a Ronaldo was putting on a
(08:21):
show week after week, the way he kicked off the matches,
the ease with which he shook off defenders, and his
vicious finishing. By December, his resume boasted seventeen goals in
only sixteen games. Ronaldo Ronaldo, he had the fans in
(08:43):
his pocket. The love affair seemed ready for an official extension,
with a salary bump that better reflected Ronaldo's status. A
press conference announcing the deal involved a lot of hugging. However,
disaster struck eight hours later. While renegotiating his contract, Barcelona
(09:03):
thought there was an agreement in place, with Barcelona president
Giusepprues Nunne saying he's ours for life, but when the
party's reconvened the following day, the agreement collapsed. Nunief had
to admit it's all over. Ronaldo is going. Ronaldo's time
at Barsa lasted just one season. Ronaldo would sign with
(09:26):
Inter Milan after scoring an unprecedented forty nine goals in
only forty seven matches, winning three titles, and supplying one
of the best individual seasons on record. It was in
Debt's turn to enjoy the new phenomenon in international soccer.
Playing for in Debt, he scored thirty four goals in
forty seven matches, and during his debut season in Calcio,
(09:47):
he took home the Cup. This is James Richardson. He
hosts the Totally Football Show and in the nineties he
covered Italian soccer for Channel four in Britain. It does
one had to check out. It's it's the UIFA Cup
Wayfer Cup final with Latzia, which he effectively just wins
on his own. I mean, the clips that you see
are generally from that game of him on a I mean,
(10:08):
I call it a pitch, but it was pretty much
a kind of potato field. He's just dancing around with
the ball glued to his feet, spinning this way that way,
maneuvering through impossibly tight corners, running down the sideline, leaping
over tackles. It was amazing scoring goals. He was fantastic,
Already recognized as potentially the world's biggest star, he arrived
at the World Cup ready to prove it. France, the
(10:37):
star of the previous World Cup, Romarrio was out of
commission with a muscle injury, so the Brazilian media trained
their flashbulbs and microphones on Ronaldo. Although he was an
enviable form, there were some doubts about his knees, which
had proved problematic during the six season at PSV. Ronaldo,
at only twenty two years of age, was already suffering
(10:58):
from chronic tendonitis, and later he would discover that he
had also been suffering from hypothyroidism from an early age.
He'd been battling this fyroid problem which kind of made
him game weight, almost doing nothing. He almost couldn't treat
it because a lot of the medications which were available
(11:18):
to treat this kind of illness are on the list
of banned substances. In fact, it was weight loss supplement
I believe which took down Diego Maradonna um famously in
the nineteen ninety four World Cup. Is probably very wary
of repeating that kind of state with any kind of
medication which could help him with this fire problem. None
(11:43):
of this diminished the high hopes for him. Ahead of
France ninety eight, Brazil was aiming to defend their title
with the roster crammed full of legends Carlo Mundo, Nielsen
and of course phenomenal Ronaldo. Going into the nineteen Auntie
Wild Cup, no of a PLI had the presence of Ronaldo,
(12:04):
not then, not del Piedo. None of the other guys
could could compared with Ronaldo. That was gonna be his
World Cup. It saying that he was distant to win
it from from start to finish. After a comfortable group
stage where Brazil defeated Scotland in Morocco, they reached the
(12:25):
round of sixteen against Chile. Ronaldo didn't disappoint once Chile
had been dispatched. Brazil went on to conquer Denmark in
the quarterfinals, and then in the semifinals, Brazil went up
against a spectacular Holland side led by Vander Sar, stan Berg,
Camp Clover, Cucko Cedar and David's. Both teams were evenly
(12:54):
matched at the outset until Ronaldo happened. As soon as
the second half kicked off. Ronaldo left Cocou in his
dust to latch onto a lab from Ribaldo and face
down Vendor Sart. However, three minutes before the end of
the match, a goal from Clovert forced extra time and
the game went to penalties. Fan Bazaar say, that is
(13:18):
appears is incredible babble. That is appears, Sorry Brazil, that
was about final. On Sunday when I play on the
other side of the brackett. France beat Croatia, the breakout
team of the Championship. The World Cup final was to
be played on July twelve. On that day, something happened,
something that has yet to be fully explained. It was
(13:40):
a surprising, fleeting moment barely a minute long, but the
consequences have rippled outward for much longer. It completely changed
the course of events only a few hours before a
kickoff in a World Cup final. More about what happened
next after the break. There are many versions of the event,
(14:04):
some contradictory and very few established facts. The point is
that Ronaldo couldn't be Rinaldo in a final where everyone
expected the real Ronaldo. On the day of the final,
after lunch, the Brazilian national team players went to their
rooms to take a short nap before the same old
game day ritual of snack, quick team talk, and bus
(14:26):
ride to the stadium. Rinaldo and Roo Carlos were sharing
a room. Rinaldo fell asleep quickly, and his roommate, who
was watching Formula one, suddenly started yelling for help. When
he realized that Ronaldo was having a seizure. The doctor
showed up and everyone else left the room. He examined
Rinaldo and let him rest. When he woke up and
(14:46):
regained consciousness, he didn't remember anything. He was immediately taken
to a clinic so they could run all sorts of
tests on him to find out exactly what had happened
and whether or not he was fit to play in
the final. Meanwhile, Brazil managers Gallo was naming the starting
eleven in the team talk before leaving for the Sandiny stadiums.
At that point, it was unclear whether Ronaldo would end
(15:08):
up dressing or not. On the way to the stadium,
there was nothing but silence. Brazil was the heavy favorite,
but only because they had Ronaldo, the best player in
the world, the man who could single handedly compensate for
any collective deficiencies. What would happen if their biggest star
couldn't play. The final was scheduled to start at nine
(15:32):
pm local time. A few minutes past eight p m,
FIFA handed out team sheets to the journalists. That was
a very very bizarre occurrence. A few hours before the match,
these were reports start coming in on the TV on
the news that Ronaldo has had a fit in his
um in his tower room. He was suffering convulsions or
(15:54):
let's see. No one really knew what was going on.
It looked absolutely certain that it would implay that he
was in a knife shape. Darel woodman the goal, Cafu,
Biano Carlos in defense, says some Bayo and Dunga as
a double pivot, Leonardo on the right wing, Rivaldo on
the left, Bibeto and did Mundo upfront. What impossible did
(16:18):
Rinaldo get benched? The journalists were in chaos, but minutes
later there were mutterings about a possible change up to
the team sheet. This was basically because just when the
team was about to head out to the field to
warm up, Ronaldo appeared in the locker room. Mystery over
(16:39):
Ronaldo was playing right before kickoff has confirmed that yes,
he's okay, he's recovered, He's he's going to be taking
the field, but he was an absolute shadow of of
what he had been for the ton him against France.
Minutes later, Ronaldo had taken the place of Edmundo in
Brazil's official starting lineup. He stepped onto the pitch to
warm up as if nothing had happened. None of the
(16:59):
barrage of test the clinic had turned up anything. The
match got underway. After just a few minutes of play,
Ronaldo crashed into the French goalkeeper Fabian bartz and laid
splayed out onto the ground, another moment of alarm for
his teammates, who were already worried about his condition. Ronaldo,
(17:20):
I'm protests, nasty tumble point, don't pull them end up
on the floor. Artest the first to pick himself up,
and he wants the referee to stop it. And now
don't get has for now. There wasn't in great shape
before the game, as I like to believe, he definitely
isn't now. Without the threat of Ronaldo, Brazil could never
(17:40):
really get going, and as the match wore on, France
got increasingly confident and started banging in the goals. Brazil
looked completely dazed, their players shell shocked. Said let's see
said Ronaldo played the full ninety and completed what was
(18:02):
probably the most underwhelming performance of his career. He just
looked off the pace. He wasn't with it. I don't
know who had the final word on signing him off
for that game, but I think it was a mistake
because with him and the pitch and that really kind
(18:25):
of not not fit state. It was like Brazil, we're
playing with a play a few Franco advantage. So what
happened exactly. Some people say he had an epileptic episode,
others say he had a cardiac event, something that Ronaldo's
spokesman refuted, just as they refuted a Brazilian sports report
(18:47):
which suggested that a light of cane treatment for the
pain in his right knee had caused the whole thing.
According to the report, the drug accidentally leaked into a vein,
spread quickly through his bloodstream and led to the seizure. Still,
something had to have caused the reduced blood flow, although
it's not exactly clear what. However, this would not be
the last painful chapter in Ronaldo's career. In fact, it
(19:10):
was only the beginning. Fast forward to April twelve, two thousand,
final match of the Italian Cup Stadio Olimpico in Rome
with Latzia, leading to one coach Marcellolipi subdoubt lago for Ronaldo,
who had just gotten the all clear from the doctors
to play two days earlier after being sidelined for a
(19:32):
hundred and forty one days, and six minutes after stepping
onto the field on one of his lovely trademark dashes
bicycle included, Ronaldo tore his pateller tendon. The same patellar
tendon that had tortured him since his days at PSV.
The moment started the clock on an ordeal that would
keep Ronaldo out of action for five hundred and twenty
(19:55):
two days, a harrowing experience full of setbacks, flare ups, pain, suffering, uncertainty,
and many many shed tears. Any other man would have
given up, but Ronaldo proved his preternatural resolve. The chosen
ones write their names in the history books, not just
through their play, but also their grit. That's the case
for Ronaldo and his recovery, arguably one of the most
(20:18):
impressive tales of endurance in the sport. In fact, during
the four years that passed between two thousand and two
World Cups, Ronaldo only played three thousand and two hundred
minutes and fifty two measly games, something unheard of for
a star of his caliber. More about what happened next.
After the break, however, the Brazilian national team manager Ruis
(20:49):
Fetiscarati went all in and called him up for the
two thousand into Korea Japan World Cup. It's do It's
too Roberto Obama. Oh, that's a dreadful mistake by Ala.
(21:10):
It's a gilt sunk. The fears of an injury flare up,
or that Ronaldo wouldn't be able to handle the demands
of the tournament loomed to large, but Scolati didn't have
many other options. After dropping Romario, he joined the three
rs in attack, Rialdo, Ronaldo and Rondini. Despite his scars,
Rinaldo scored four goals in the three group stage matches,
(21:31):
and he scored an additional goal against Belgium in the
round of sixteen, and in the semifinal, Ronaldo dusted off
one of his best tricks, the shot under pressure. We're
about to start. They World Cup Final of two thousand
and two, the first one of the New century. On
each Brazil stride away from the kickoffs, Brazil had reached
another final, and as if no time had passed, Rinaldo
(21:53):
once again wore the mantle of the biggest star in
a World Cup final. But this time there were no surprise.
Is saved for a questionable haircut and the phenomenal penned
a glorious climax. I think there was a lot of
expectation in two thousands and two, purely because their team
was so good. He had a guy like Ronald Leno
(22:15):
who was absolutely at his peak, Rivaldo who was his peak,
Cafou Carlos On on the two flanks, two of the
best fullbacks ever to play the game. It was just
a team full of stars, and I think at the
very least if they didn't hadn't have reached the third
final win a row after ninety eight, it would have
(22:38):
been very surprising. And they came through. They were definitely
worthy winners in Japan and South Korea. Brazil beat Germany
to nil, both goals courtesy of El phenomenon does and
Brazil win the World Cup. Who finished the two thousand
and two World Cup with eight goals in seven matches,
(23:01):
pure catharsis. Ronaldo redeemed himself, settled his debt with his country,
and inherited the throne that was rightfully his. Shortly after
the World Cup, Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid as part
of their Galactico program, where he grabbed goals and trophies
galore over the course of five years. Even if he
(23:23):
wasn't quite the same live and lean Ronaldo, once you
start reaching thirty, it can take his toe and and
probably there was a failing on Ronaldo's part just Why
(23:44):
should I keep battling it? You know, I've I've done
so much in my career. I've achieved on one of
my dreams. Um so I need to keep killing myself.
We can week out to UH to make the white
and I think even you know, at seventy eight, which
is what we saw probably from Ronaldo a lot, that
eight percent was still better than than almost ever we
(24:06):
have a footballer out there. He wore a Simi Lands
jersey and eventually retired with Gordinians, where he would place
one final jewel in his crown by winning the copies.
No one has ever become quite as synonymous with the
goal and the sprint just before the goal like Ronaldo Nazario,
a number nine unlike any other, the best pure striker
(24:30):
in soccer history, a master of the darting sprint, of
uncanny premonition and of ruthlessly efficient finishing. Fred He had
it's incredible grin which made you like him, which made
you enjoy watching him. His football brought a smile as well.
(24:50):
He was. We talked about the fantasista and how they
bring something the unexpected, the inexplicable to a game that
how they defy the calculations. That's what Ronaldo was was doing.
He wasn't a number ten. He was a goal scorer,
but he could do anything. People talk about players being
a cheat code. I mean, he that's what he was.
And it was a joy to have him in said, yeah,
it's a shame that he's you know, things worked out
(25:12):
so badly for him in Italy, but but yeah, for
a brief, glorious season he was. He was just the
best in the world and we were lucky to watch him.
A meteoric rise, cut short and unsolved, mystery, harrowing years
of injury, suffering and despair, and finally redemption, sweet sweet
World Cup winning redemption. Ronaldo has deservedly carved his face
(25:33):
on soccer's Mount rushmore glory to el phenomenon Ordo or
simply Ronaldo, the first great Ronaldo in history. The Best
Soccer Podcast in the World is a production of Exiled
Content Studios in partnership with My Heart Michael da Podcast Network,
(25:56):
and is hosted by me named Vila, produced by a
Look Exact Lee Rigg, written by Zach Lee Rigg and
Means production assistants by Stella Emmett. Our executive producers are
Isaac Lee, Rose Reed and myself named Avila. Our executive
producers at I Heart are Gisel Bancees and Arlene Santana.
Sound designed by Ula Mendoza Are Awesome. Theme song is
(26:19):
by lu j Special Thanks to all the voices that
participated in this episode Alexei Lalas, Daniel Edwards, and James Richardson.
For more podcasts, listen to the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
In soccer, the best, most efficient form of myth making
happens at the FIFA World Cup. It's been this way
since nineteen thirty and every four years since. The World
Cup has grown into a behemoth since that time, with
a global audience of three point five billion people. That's
right billion with a B. That's a third of the
(00:26):
world turning into the crescendo of its most popular sport.
I've been a soccer fan since the day I was born,
when my dad made me a card carrying socio of
Real Madrid. In the decades since, I've woken up at
all hours to watch laggy, illegal streams and now CRISP
four K broadcasts of games. I treked around South Africa
(00:49):
to watch my country, Spain finally win the World Cup.
Been two thousand and ten. I'm Nando Vila and this
is the best soccer podcast in the world, a new
show that tells stories that spill well beyond the field,
from legendary players to silly hairdos to heart wrenching finals.
Here on the best soccer podcast in the world, We're
(01:11):
going to relive all of the most iconic World Cup
moments throughout soccer's extensive history. Alone goes with him. But
it's still Ronaldo, Yes, wanted to say, wonderful. I never
(01:40):
sink take a breath Soccer, like all of existence comes
(02:03):
down to just a series of breaths in out goal
save No. One's career was defined by breaths as much
as Ronaldo Nazario Dalima, the steady sniper exhales while shooting
the puffed out cheeks as he turned on the afterburners
to power past his marker yet again. The pause just
(02:26):
before the finish and now the breakout is all let
bike do Gary and Brazil struck me to get cracked.
Vi Era vanielt today many day high break citizen Paris,
But welcome Mr pros and those few cursed gasps. When
(02:46):
he couldn't breathe during a seizure that nearly took his
life and robbed Brazil of a World Cup, I had conversion,
and I was saying for three or four minutes, you
string all those breaths together and you have a career
A player who could literally take your breath away when
he was at full sprint. In a few short years,
(03:07):
he transformed himself from Ronaldinho as he was known when
he was a youngster to el phenomenon, the nickname he's
most remembered by. It's hard to describe just how good
Ronaldo was in his prime. Ronaldo was one of soccer's
chosen ones. Regardless of the many matches he missed through injury.
What would he have become without all those lengthy setbacks?
(03:29):
And perhaps the most tantalizing question, what would have happened
had he not collapsed before that final? When you're there
and you believe the competition, it's a lot of oppression.
Doctors called me in to another room and that will
not play, and I say, no, it's not possible. I
(03:51):
want to play. It is, without a doubt, one of
soccer's greatest mysteries. Ronaldo's story feels like it was scripted
by soccer's best screenwriter, his tail tying together the bitterness
of his injuries and the suffering required to overcome them,
driven forward by his love of the goal. Ronaldo want
to run. This is danger, Ronaldo into the area. Naldo,
(04:14):
how does he do that? The drama of defeat deepened
by the mystery of an episode that to this day
remains unexplained, and sure why not? The eventual redemption that
every hero deserves. Today we bring you the story of
a striker who was half man, replete with mistakes, carnal
sins and physical frailty, and half God, given his otherworldly
(04:36):
ability to score without further ado, we give you Ronaldo,
the Demigod of goals. The way that he played was
one of pure joy. I was with him a few
months ago at a FIFA event and he has not
lost that, that joy of life. And while there was
(05:00):
you know, certainly a a machine like moment to him,
he would try stuff and try stuff that others wouldn't
even think to try, and also have the audacity the
goal and the confidence that it was going to work out.
This is Alexei Lawless, a former player for the US
men's national team and now a pundit for Fox Sports.
(05:22):
The difference between him is not only did he try stuff,
but he saw things that others wouldn't see. He tried
things that others wouldn't try, and more often than not
it worked out well and he was successful when others
would fail, and that, you know, that's what made him great.
But he did it with you know, he did it
with just a beauty but also just there was just
(05:46):
there was love and there was romance in the way
that that he's slalomed and his balance and his shifting
of his weight. Um, it was beautiful. But Sado got
his start with Sukari Stival, where he was discovered by Zadezine,
one of the best right wingers of all time and
a key figure on the legendary nineteen seventy Brazil national team.
(06:06):
Jazino spotted a talented kid from the club's youth system
and promoted him. Ronaldo, who was known as Ronaldinho at
that point, soaked up wisdom from his mentor. One of
the most renowned teams in Brazil, Group Crusado, snapped him up.
He made a difference in the from the very beginning.
(06:30):
His outstanding displays and his consistent scoring naturally drew the
attention of the man in charge of the Brazilian national team.
At seventeen years old, Ronaldo was living the dream he
would represent the most legendary national team During the nineteen
ninety four USA World Cup, and even though he didn't
(06:51):
play a single minute, Ronaldo participated in the collective success
as Brazil conquered the world to win the Cup for
the fourth time. Who has to score, really has bought
a team to the part even if he didn't play
(07:16):
in the in the Cup. This is Daniel Edwards, a
writer covering South American soccer for Goal, among other places.
He was already making a lot of headlines before the
World Cup. He had a ridiculous scoring record for Crusader
and then after the Cup he catches the eye of
(07:37):
PSV in the Netherlands. Guys over there he was still
on the eighteen nineteen years old came under the wing
of Bobby Robson, the late Bobby Robson, one of one
of the most revered coaches in English football. Ronaldo did
serve Ronaldo and after two wonderful season is playing for
(08:00):
ps VH Eindhoven, where he scored fifty four goals in
fifty seven games. He arrived in Barcelona for the seven season.
This was the start of his meteoric rise to the
very top of global soccer. He's going all the way.
Oh good, dismay, it's a Ronaldo was putting on a
(08:21):
show week after week, the way he kicked off the matches,
the ease with which he shook off defenders, and his
vicious finishing. By December, his resume boasted seventeen goals in
only sixteen games. Ronaldo Ronaldo, he had the fans in
(08:43):
his pocket. The love affair seemed ready for an official extension,
with a salary bump that better reflected Ronaldo's status. A
press conference announcing the deal involved a lot of hugging. However,
disaster struck eight hours later. While renegotiating his contract, Barcelona
(09:03):
thought there was an agreement in place, with Barcelona president
Giusepprues Nunne saying he's ours for life, but when the
party's reconvened the following day, the agreement collapsed. Nunief had
to admit it's all over. Ronaldo is going. Ronaldo's time
at Barsa lasted just one season. Ronaldo would sign with
(09:26):
Inter Milan after scoring an unprecedented forty nine goals in
only forty seven matches, winning three titles, and supplying one
of the best individual seasons on record. It was in
Debt's turn to enjoy the new phenomenon in international soccer.
Playing for in Debt, he scored thirty four goals in
forty seven matches, and during his debut season in Calcio,
(09:47):
he took home the Cup. This is James Richardson. He
hosts the Totally Football Show and in the nineties he
covered Italian soccer for Channel four in Britain. It does
one had to check out. It's it's the UIFA Cup
Wayfer Cup final with Latzia, which he effectively just wins
on his own. I mean, the clips that you see
are generally from that game of him on a I mean,
(10:08):
I call it a pitch, but it was pretty much
a kind of potato field. He's just dancing around with
the ball glued to his feet, spinning this way that way,
maneuvering through impossibly tight corners, running down the sideline, leaping
over tackles. It was amazing scoring goals. He was fantastic,
Already recognized as potentially the world's biggest star, he arrived
at the World Cup ready to prove it. France, the
(10:37):
star of the previous World Cup, Romarrio was out of
commission with a muscle injury, so the Brazilian media trained
their flashbulbs and microphones on Ronaldo. Although he was an
enviable form, there were some doubts about his knees, which
had proved problematic during the six season at PSV. Ronaldo,
at only twenty two years of age, was already suffering
(10:58):
from chronic tendonitis, and later he would discover that he
had also been suffering from hypothyroidism from an early age.
He'd been battling this fyroid problem which kind of made
him game weight, almost doing nothing. He almost couldn't treat
it because a lot of the medications which were available
(11:18):
to treat this kind of illness are on the list
of banned substances. In fact, it was weight loss supplement
I believe which took down Diego Maradonna um famously in
the nineteen ninety four World Cup. Is probably very wary
of repeating that kind of state with any kind of
medication which could help him with this fire problem. None
(11:43):
of this diminished the high hopes for him. Ahead of
France ninety eight, Brazil was aiming to defend their title
with the roster crammed full of legends Carlo Mundo, Nielsen
and of course phenomenal Ronaldo. Going into the nineteen Auntie
Wild Cup, no of a PLI had the presence of Ronaldo,
(12:04):
not then, not del Piedo. None of the other guys
could could compared with Ronaldo. That was gonna be his
World Cup. It saying that he was distant to win
it from from start to finish. After a comfortable group
stage where Brazil defeated Scotland in Morocco, they reached the
(12:25):
round of sixteen against Chile. Ronaldo didn't disappoint once Chile
had been dispatched. Brazil went on to conquer Denmark in
the quarterfinals, and then in the semifinals, Brazil went up
against a spectacular Holland side led by Vander Sar, stan Berg,
Camp Clover, Cucko Cedar and David's. Both teams were evenly
(12:54):
matched at the outset until Ronaldo happened. As soon as
the second half kicked off. Ronaldo left Cocou in his
dust to latch onto a lab from Ribaldo and face
down Vendor Sart. However, three minutes before the end of
the match, a goal from Clovert forced extra time and
the game went to penalties. Fan Bazaar say, that is
(13:18):
appears is incredible babble. That is appears, Sorry Brazil, that
was about final. On Sunday when I play on the
other side of the brackett. France beat Croatia, the breakout
team of the Championship. The World Cup final was to
be played on July twelve. On that day, something happened,
something that has yet to be fully explained. It was
(13:40):
a surprising, fleeting moment barely a minute long, but the
consequences have rippled outward for much longer. It completely changed
the course of events only a few hours before a
kickoff in a World Cup final. More about what happened
next after the break. There are many versions of the event,
(14:04):
some contradictory and very few established facts. The point is
that Ronaldo couldn't be Rinaldo in a final where everyone
expected the real Ronaldo. On the day of the final,
after lunch, the Brazilian national team players went to their
rooms to take a short nap before the same old
game day ritual of snack, quick team talk, and bus
(14:26):
ride to the stadium. Rinaldo and Roo Carlos were sharing
a room. Rinaldo fell asleep quickly, and his roommate, who
was watching Formula one, suddenly started yelling for help. When
he realized that Ronaldo was having a seizure. The doctor
showed up and everyone else left the room. He examined
Rinaldo and let him rest. When he woke up and
(14:46):
regained consciousness, he didn't remember anything. He was immediately taken
to a clinic so they could run all sorts of
tests on him to find out exactly what had happened
and whether or not he was fit to play in
the final. Meanwhile, Brazil managers Gallo was naming the starting
eleven in the team talk before leaving for the Sandiny stadiums.
At that point, it was unclear whether Ronaldo would end
(15:08):
up dressing or not. On the way to the stadium,
there was nothing but silence. Brazil was the heavy favorite,
but only because they had Ronaldo, the best player in
the world, the man who could single handedly compensate for
any collective deficiencies. What would happen if their biggest star
couldn't play. The final was scheduled to start at nine
(15:32):
pm local time. A few minutes past eight p m,
FIFA handed out team sheets to the journalists. That was
a very very bizarre occurrence. A few hours before the match,
these were reports start coming in on the TV on
the news that Ronaldo has had a fit in his
um in his tower room. He was suffering convulsions or
(15:54):
let's see. No one really knew what was going on.
It looked absolutely certain that it would implay that he
was in a knife shape. Darel woodman the goal, Cafu,
Biano Carlos in defense, says some Bayo and Dunga as
a double pivot, Leonardo on the right wing, Rivaldo on
the left, Bibeto and did Mundo upfront. What impossible did
(16:18):
Rinaldo get benched? The journalists were in chaos, but minutes
later there were mutterings about a possible change up to
the team sheet. This was basically because just when the
team was about to head out to the field to
warm up, Ronaldo appeared in the locker room. Mystery over
(16:39):
Ronaldo was playing right before kickoff has confirmed that yes,
he's okay, he's recovered, He's he's going to be taking
the field, but he was an absolute shadow of of
what he had been for the ton him against France.
Minutes later, Ronaldo had taken the place of Edmundo in
Brazil's official starting lineup. He stepped onto the pitch to
warm up as if nothing had happened. None of the
(16:59):
barrage of test the clinic had turned up anything. The
match got underway. After just a few minutes of play,
Ronaldo crashed into the French goalkeeper Fabian bartz and laid
splayed out onto the ground, another moment of alarm for
his teammates, who were already worried about his condition. Ronaldo,
(17:20):
I'm protests, nasty tumble point, don't pull them end up
on the floor. Artest the first to pick himself up,
and he wants the referee to stop it. And now
don't get has for now. There wasn't in great shape
before the game, as I like to believe, he definitely
isn't now. Without the threat of Ronaldo, Brazil could never
(17:40):
really get going, and as the match wore on, France
got increasingly confident and started banging in the goals. Brazil
looked completely dazed, their players shell shocked. Said let's see
said Ronaldo played the full ninety and completed what was
(18:02):
probably the most underwhelming performance of his career. He just
looked off the pace. He wasn't with it. I don't
know who had the final word on signing him off
for that game, but I think it was a mistake
because with him and the pitch and that really kind
(18:25):
of not not fit state. It was like Brazil, we're
playing with a play a few Franco advantage. So what
happened exactly. Some people say he had an epileptic episode,
others say he had a cardiac event, something that Ronaldo's
spokesman refuted, just as they refuted a Brazilian sports report
(18:47):
which suggested that a light of cane treatment for the
pain in his right knee had caused the whole thing.
According to the report, the drug accidentally leaked into a vein,
spread quickly through his bloodstream and led to the seizure. Still,
something had to have caused the reduced blood flow, although
it's not exactly clear what. However, this would not be
the last painful chapter in Ronaldo's career. In fact, it
(19:10):
was only the beginning. Fast forward to April twelve, two thousand,
final match of the Italian Cup Stadio Olimpico in Rome
with Latzia, leading to one coach Marcellolipi subdoubt lago for Ronaldo,
who had just gotten the all clear from the doctors
to play two days earlier after being sidelined for a
(19:32):
hundred and forty one days, and six minutes after stepping
onto the field on one of his lovely trademark dashes
bicycle included, Ronaldo tore his pateller tendon. The same patellar
tendon that had tortured him since his days at PSV.
The moment started the clock on an ordeal that would
keep Ronaldo out of action for five hundred and twenty
(19:55):
two days, a harrowing experience full of setbacks, flare ups, pain, suffering, uncertainty,
and many many shed tears. Any other man would have
given up, but Ronaldo proved his preternatural resolve. The chosen
ones write their names in the history books, not just
through their play, but also their grit. That's the case
for Ronaldo and his recovery, arguably one of the most
(20:18):
impressive tales of endurance in the sport. In fact, during
the four years that passed between two thousand and two
World Cups, Ronaldo only played three thousand and two hundred
minutes and fifty two measly games, something unheard of for
a star of his caliber. More about what happened next.
After the break, however, the Brazilian national team manager Ruis
(20:49):
Fetiscarati went all in and called him up for the
two thousand into Korea Japan World Cup. It's do It's
too Roberto Obama. Oh, that's a dreadful mistake by Ala.
(21:10):
It's a gilt sunk. The fears of an injury flare up,
or that Ronaldo wouldn't be able to handle the demands
of the tournament loomed to large, but Scolati didn't have
many other options. After dropping Romario, he joined the three
rs in attack, Rialdo, Ronaldo and Rondini. Despite his scars,
Rinaldo scored four goals in the three group stage matches,
(21:31):
and he scored an additional goal against Belgium in the
round of sixteen, and in the semifinal, Ronaldo dusted off
one of his best tricks, the shot under pressure. We're
about to start. They World Cup Final of two thousand
and two, the first one of the New century. On
each Brazil stride away from the kickoffs, Brazil had reached
another final, and as if no time had passed, Rinaldo
(21:53):
once again wore the mantle of the biggest star in
a World Cup final. But this time there were no surprise.
Is saved for a questionable haircut and the phenomenal penned
a glorious climax. I think there was a lot of
expectation in two thousands and two, purely because their team
was so good. He had a guy like Ronald Leno
(22:15):
who was absolutely at his peak, Rivaldo who was his peak,
Cafou Carlos On on the two flanks, two of the
best fullbacks ever to play the game. It was just
a team full of stars, and I think at the
very least if they didn't hadn't have reached the third
final win a row after ninety eight, it would have
(22:38):
been very surprising. And they came through. They were definitely
worthy winners in Japan and South Korea. Brazil beat Germany
to nil, both goals courtesy of El phenomenon does and
Brazil win the World Cup. Who finished the two thousand
and two World Cup with eight goals in seven matches,
(23:01):
pure catharsis. Ronaldo redeemed himself, settled his debt with his country,
and inherited the throne that was rightfully his. Shortly after
the World Cup, Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid as part
of their Galactico program, where he grabbed goals and trophies
galore over the course of five years. Even if he
(23:23):
wasn't quite the same live and lean Ronaldo, once you
start reaching thirty, it can take his toe and and
probably there was a failing on Ronaldo's part just Why
(23:44):
should I keep battling it? You know, I've I've done
so much in my career. I've achieved on one of
my dreams. Um so I need to keep killing myself.
We can week out to UH to make the white
and I think even you know, at seventy eight, which
is what we saw probably from Ronaldo a lot, that
eight percent was still better than than almost ever we
(24:06):
have a footballer out there. He wore a Simi Lands
jersey and eventually retired with Gordinians, where he would place
one final jewel in his crown by winning the copies.
No one has ever become quite as synonymous with the
goal and the sprint just before the goal like Ronaldo Nazario,
a number nine unlike any other, the best pure striker
(24:30):
in soccer history, a master of the darting sprint, of
uncanny premonition and of ruthlessly efficient finishing. Fred He had
it's incredible grin which made you like him, which made
you enjoy watching him. His football brought a smile as well.
(24:50):
He was. We talked about the fantasista and how they
bring something the unexpected, the inexplicable to a game that
how they defy the calculations. That's what Ronaldo was was doing.
He wasn't a number ten. He was a goal scorer,
but he could do anything. People talk about players being
a cheat code. I mean, he that's what he was.
And it was a joy to have him in said, yeah,
it's a shame that he's you know, things worked out
(25:12):
so badly for him in Italy, but but yeah, for
a brief, glorious season he was. He was just the
best in the world and we were lucky to watch him.
A meteoric rise, cut short and unsolved, mystery, harrowing years
of injury, suffering and despair, and finally redemption, sweet sweet
World Cup winning redemption. Ronaldo has deservedly carved his face
(25:33):
on soccer's Mount rushmore glory to el phenomenon Ordo or
simply Ronaldo, the first great Ronaldo in history. The Best
Soccer Podcast in the World is a production of Exiled
Content Studios in partnership with My Heart Michael da Podcast Network,
(25:56):
and is hosted by me named Vila, produced by a
Look Exact Lee Rigg, written by Zach Lee Rigg and
Means production assistants by Stella Emmett. Our executive producers are
Isaac Lee, Rose Reed and myself named Avila. Our executive
producers at I Heart are Gisel Bancees and Arlene Santana.
Sound designed by Ula Mendoza Are Awesome. Theme song is
(26:19):
by lu j Special Thanks to all the voices that
participated in this episode Alexei Lalas, Daniel Edwards, and James Richardson.
For more podcasts, listen to the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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