On September 22, Betfair celebrates the 48th birthday of Ronaldo Nazário, the brand ambassador and five-time world champion with the Brazilian National Team. In an exclusive interview, the star, twice Ballon d'Or winner, recalled the main moments of his victorious career, highlighting passages through Cruzeiro and Corinthians in Brazil, Inter Milan and AC Milan in Italy, and Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain.
Beginning at Cruzeiro: seeking space and experience to become a professional
In 1993, at just 16 years old, Ronaldo joined Cruzeiro from São Cristóvão. Despite his young age, he quickly stood out showing speed, skill, and a keen goal-scoring instinct, and it didn't take long for him to make his mark in the main team of the club from Minas Gerais.
The Betfair ambassador highlights that his early years in the world of football shaped him to be a great professional player. “The passage through Cruzeiro was fundamental for everything that happened in my career. I was very young and was looking for my space in football, and it was at the club from Minas Gerais that I began to understand what it meant to be a professional”.
“I lived with many experienced players like Toninho Cerezo, Careca, Dida, and coach Ênio Andrade. I had many memorable moments, such as my first match as a professional against Caldense and my first professional goal, against Belenenses. I received a warm reception from the fans who, from the beginning, always believed in me”, he said.
“There I learned a lot and took from that time: the importance of hard work and the discipline of being a high-performance professional, as well as learning to deal with pressure from an early age. This start at Cruzeiro gave me the confidence needed to face bigger challenges in Europe and the Brazilian National Team. Without a doubt, the first steps in Minas were the foundation for everything I achieved later", highlighted Ronaldo, in an interview with Betfair.
Challenge in the old boot playing for rivals Inter and Milan
Nicknamed by the Italians as 'The Phenomenon', Ronaldo left his mark in Italy in two notable stints, one with Internazionale Milan from 1997 to 2002, and between 2007 and 2008, playing for AC Milan. The star assessed what it was like to be part of this experience of playing for the rival clubs of the city of Milan, at different times in his career.
"It was challenging to play both for Inter and then for Milan. Both clubs have rich histories, passionate fans, and are intense rivals. At Inter, I had unforgettable moments, including the incredible connection with the fans and the feeling of being part of an ambitious project.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented me from achieving everything I wanted, but I learned a lot about overcoming and resilience
”, he recounted.
“At Milan, it was an opportunity to write a new chapter in my career, at an equally grand club, filled with great stars. Living with players of the highest level and the respect I received even coming from the rival side were significant for me. What struck me the most in Italy was the passion and tactical knowledge of football, something that made me grow as a player and understand the game better. Having experienced both sides of the Milan derby was something rare, and I am grateful to have been part of the history of both clubs”.
Achievements at Barcelona and Real Madrid
The birthday celebrant's time at both Barcelona and Real Madrid placed him at the center of one of the greatest rivalries in world football. Few players have performed at a high level for both clubs like Ronaldo.
“What struck me the most in Spain was the intense rivalry between the two clubs and the passion of the fans, who make football a true art. Being able to have worn the jerseys of both clubs is something that fills me with pride and has left a deep mark on my trajectory", Ronaldo assessed to Betfair.
"At Barcelona, even with a short stint, I lived a fantastic 96/97 season, where I was able to show all my potential by becoming the top scorer of the Spanish Championship and being elected the best player in the world that season. I remember with great affection the titles of the European Super Cup and the King's Cup, as well as that goal against Valencia, being one of the most important of my career”.
“At Real Madrid, the experience was different and equally important. Being part of that team known as 'Galácticos' was one of the highlights of my career. The pressure was huge, but the achievements and moments of brilliance, both individual and collective, were unforgettable”, he recalled.
The farewell from football at Timão
The Betfair ambassador returned to Brazilian football in an ambitious project with Corinthians in 2008, shortly after the return to Serie A of the Brazilian Championship. Ronaldo's time at the São Paulo team yielded good results both for the club and the five-time champion, where he became champion of the Copa do Brasil and the Campeonato Paulista, being the highlight of the team and the competitions that year. R9 recalled to Betfair the affection he received from the Fiel Torcida and his triumphant return after a serious injury at Milan.
"It was very remarkable to live the Corinthians until I ended my career in football. I remember with great affection the warm reception I had from the first day, at that presentation at Parque São Jorge, the passion of the fans is something indescribable”.
“The moments I keep most in memory are, without a doubt, the achievements of the Paulista and the Copa do Brasil in 2009. Those titles had a special flavor in my career, because they marked my return to football after a long period of recovery from injuries that plagued me”.
“I believe I managed to show the Corinthians fan that, even in the face of adversities, it is possible to bounce back and do a good job on the field. I left at Corinthians not only the titles but also immense affection to the fans who gave me a lot of support from my arrival until the announcement of retirement", completed Ronaldo, in an exclusive interview with Betfair.
With these memories, Ronaldo continues to inspire generations of fans around the world, celebrating not just his brilliant career, but also his passion and all the commitment he had with the most popular sport in Brazil. Congratulations Ronaldo!
Betfair also produced content for the social networks of the betting house, asking quick questions to the five-time champion. Just click here and check out the complete content where the birthday celebrant talks about football, tennis, Formula 1, curiosities, daily habits, dreams, fears, and even soap opera.
One of the largest providers of online sports betting in the world, Betfair is the official sponsor of the teams of Cruzeiro and Vasco da Gama. The company, founded in London in the year 2000, was a pioneer in offering peer-to-peer betting (Betfair Exchange) and manages a complete set of sports betting, entertainment events, and online gaming products for more than four million customers over 18 years old worldwide.
Thanks to its cutting-edge technology, the platform offers a broad catalog of products that allows betting with your own odds and odds offered by other users. Betfair is licensed to operate online betting and other games in 19 countries, including Spain, Italy, Malta, and Great Britain.
Source: GMB
