The career of the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup history is set to come to a close tomorrow as 34 year-old Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima hangs up his boots. Ronaldo starred as Brazil's - not to mention the world's - best striker, and averaged five goals per tournament, with three scored in Germany in 2006, four in France in 1998, and eight in South Korea/Japan in 2002, where he led his country to their most recent World Cup win. He overtook German Gerd Muller record of 14 World Cup goals in the 2006 tournament, and despite Miroslav Klose's recent assault on Ronaldo's title (the Bayern Munich hitman, 32, finished the 2010 World Cup with 14 career goals), Ronaldo looks like he'll be secure with 15 for the foreseeable future.
VIDEO: Ronaldo’s Record 15 World Cup Goals
How did he score so many goals in football’s premier competition? The same way he terrorised defences across Europe for the better part of the decade: Dazzling skill, a knack for surprises, power, pace, and an unmatched poachers’ instinct. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Why not see for yourself?
It’s difficult to reconcile Ronaldo’s peak abilities with the sad deterioration in skill and fitness towards the end of his sojourn in football, but for the better part of the decade, he was, quite simply, one of the very best strikers who ever lived.
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