Rags to riches and more: Ronaldo loves being the president

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is widely regarded as one of the best players ever. His skill, pace, movement and ability to find the net with both power and precision made him a nightmare for defenders around the world in late nineties until 2011. Now he’s in the game in an entirely different capacity as he tries to improve the fortunes of Real Valladolid in Spain.

Stories of Brazilians who came from extreme poverty to stardom are not few but Ronaldo’s is especially touching.

"The doctor who delivered me did not charge for the delivery because he realized my parents could not afford to pay, so my father brought him three kilos of shrimp that he collected on the beach and then they named me the doctor."

Forty-four years later, that boy from Rio de Janeiro would buy a 51 percent stake at Real Valladolid for around $35million and thus become the club’s president.

"I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare for this. Football is all about passion. We want to build the best team possible to compete while also giving information about our management with transparency."

Real Valaldolid president (©Gallo Images)

However, he doesn’t want his reputation of a world-class player to be his main asset in his new job. His duty is to represent the club off the pitch and not interfere in the coaching staff and players’ duties.

"I want to be close to the players and see what they need, but I try not to get too close. I try to stay in my place."

He was all about passion throughout his career. He played for rival clubs in both Spain and Italy and was universally loved and admired. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan fans are all proud because they got to see The Phenomenon playing in their colours.

Ronaldo remembers all his goals fondly but the two he scored in the 2002 World Cup final remain his most cherished. Four years after his health issues prevented him from starring in the final against France, Ronaldo was back to his best, bringing joy to his country after years of injury problems.

"I love all my goals, they are like my babies, but I always choose both of them with Brazil against Germany in 2002. Two years before, due to injuries, nobody believed that I could play football again. I was the top scorer and we won the World Cup. Those two goals represent my great fight during those two difficult years."

One of the talking points during the 2002 World Cup was Ronaldo’s bizarre hairstyle, one that prompted many kids around the world to demand the same from their barbers. He remembers it with a smile.

"It was horrible. I apologize to all the mothers who saw their children get the same haircut. But it did a lot of good for me. The journalists saw my haircut and stopped talking about my injury."

The best thing a man can say about his past is that there are no regrets. Luis Nazario certainly doesn’t have any.

"I don't care if people remember me as ‘The fat Ronaldo’ or ‘Ronaldo the Phenomenon’. I did the best I could. I had a great career and now I've started a new one. And I also want to be the best."