Ronaldo reveals retirement date
442 Staff - Monday 22 February 2010, 17:58
Brazilian striker Ronaldo has announced that he will retire from football at the end of 2011.
The 33-year-old three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and two-time
World Cup winner is currently plying his trade in his homeland with
Corinthians, and has revealed that he will hang up his boots once and
for all when his contract expires on December 31 next year.
"I have extended my contract for another two years and that will be the
last of my career. I want to give my all, have fun and finish with some
major achievements," he said at a press conference.
The veteran goal-getter, who has netted 62 goals in 97 appearances for
Brazil, has scored more than 200 league goals during an illustrious
career with PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC
Milan.
After recovering from serious knee injury sustained playing for the
Rossoneri in 2008, he returned to South America with Corinthians, where
he hopes to win the one title that has eluded him - the much-coveted
Copa Libertadores.
And he revealed that he had still not yet given up hope of being named
in Dunga's squad for the forthcoming World Cup finals in South Africa,
where he would attempt to clock up a century of caps for the Samba Boys
and add to his record of 15 goals scored in World Cup finals.
"About the World Cup, we'll see,'' he said.
"I still have a chance of
going. But for 2014 [when Brazil host the tournament] it is
impossible. It is a long way off and time is moving on."
Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah, confirmed that the striker will perform
ambassadorial roles for Corinthians following his retirement.
"Ronaldo will become a representative of Corinthians abroad. We will
combine his name and the importance it has with the strength of the
club.''
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