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Ronaldo 2002
RONALDO
Iconic cover…another gong for the golden boy of Brazilian football
2 0 0 2
O FenemenoO Fenemeno back on top back on top
Words: Gavin Hamilton Interview: Keir Radnedge
Ronaldo’s reputation as the onaldo’s reputation as the world’s most popular forld’s most popular otballer has been confirmed by the has been confirmed by the results of the 2002 Wo Wor ld r ld Soccer awards. The Brazilian was theawards. The Brazilian was the clear winner of this year ear winner of this year’s World Player World Player of the Year poll, ahead of Germany ’sof the Year poll, ahead of Germany ’s Michael Ballack and his Brazil and chael Ballack and his Brazil and Re Real Ma Madrid team-mate Roberto Carlos.drid team-mate Roberto Carlos.
The award confirms the remarkableThe award confirms the remarkable turnaround in Ronaldo’s fortunes overturnaround in Ronaldo’s fortunes over th the past 12 months. The forward toppede past 12 months. The forward topped the voting at the end of a year in which he scored twice in the World Cup final and joined Spanish giants Real Madrid in a hugely controversial transfer. Yet he also spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch.
In being voted 2002 World Player of the Year, Ronaldo is the first player to win our award three times, having previously triumphed in 1996 and 1997.
Last year’s winner, Michael Owen, finished way back in ninth place and was the only Englishman to feature in the top ten.
Players who performed well at last summer’s World Cup featured heavily, with strong showings for Roberto Carlos – the first man to win a World Cup and European Cup in the same year since 1974 – Ballack and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Zinedine Zidane’s masterful performance for Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen did not go unrecognised as he finished fourth.
Brazil’s World Cup victory in the Far East ensured that they were comfortable winners of the World Team of the Year award. The South Americans were the first winners of the award, in 1982, and thus claim it for the second time, ahead of Real Madrid, Arsenal and South Korea.
But it was not to be a clean sweep for Brazil – Luiz Felipe Scolari was beaten to the Manager award by Guus Hiddink, who was honoured for his extraordinary achievement in taking South Korea, who had not won a match in five previous World Cup finals, to the semi-finals.
The headlines, though, are Ronaldo’s. His achievement in regaining his status as the world’s top footballer is owed, remarkably, to just four magical weeks out of 52 – the month in South Korea and Japan when Brazil won the World Cup for a record-extending fifth time.
The fuss over his transfer from Internazionale to Real Madrid did nothing to dim his popularity. Indeed, it kept his name and fame in front of the football public. For Ronaldo, it has been one of the happiest years of his career…
World Cup Golden Boot winner… Ronaldo hit eight goals
At a distance of six months, what can you recall from winning the World Cup in the Far East?
I will never forget that wonderful feeling, and it was great to see how many people enjoyed our success. Winning in Yokohama was far more satisfying than in 1994. Then I was only 17, and though I was in the squad, I never played. It’s completely different becoming a world champion as a reserve than as a first-choice player. But, of course, the team depend on the support of every member of the squad – particularly now there are no great teams any more.
What has changed?
Football is much more evenly balanced now. Perhaps it’s because the top players play too many games. That’s one reason France and Argentina went out in the first round. Their players were already worn out when they arrived. We play far too much for our clubs in different competitions and for the national team. It’s getting worse every year. Players are people, not robots. I don’t understand, for example, why we have to play 18 matches in the South American qualifying section of the World Cup.
After the World Cup came all the fuss about your transfer to Real Madrid. It was compared to a soap opera, it ran on so long. Did it feel like that to you?
It was a difficult time but I don’t want to look back. It ’s over and I can concentrate on fulfilling a dream by playing for the greatest club in the world. I had talked about my future with Inter before the World Cup so this was not a big surprise to them, whatever people try to say. But it was during the World Cup when I finally decided I wanted to play for a club who could support me, not a club that I was expected to carry on my own shoulders.
It was said that the Internazionale president, Massimo Moratti, was like a father to you…
Nothing would have been possible without Moratti’s help – even right at the end when everything was so complicated. He understood my concerns all along. I know it looks as if I betrayed Inter and Moratti, but it really was not like that. I don’t have any problem with the fans, either. They were always brilliant with me. I am sorry things ended as they did but they will think better of me in time, when they understand more about what happened.
Is it correct that Madrid will not pay you whenever the knee plays up?
I don’t want to discuss my contract publicly. But there is no clause, for instance, which gives me time off to go home for Carnival. That ’s another misunderstanding that worked against me in Italy. I attended Carnival in Rio only when I was recovering from injuries and so I could not play or train properly and was either resting back at home or convalescing. I certainly won’t be asking Madrid if I can go home for Carnival.
It was suggested you missed the game at Barcelona not because of illness but so you would not get the same reaction as Luis Figo. Was that true?
Not at all. I was desperate to play at Camp Nou. But when I arrived back from Korea I had a temperature. I have learned not to take any risks. I have a lot of friends in Barcelona I was looking forward to meeting again. I enjoyed my season there and now intend enjoying my time with Madrid. I know, from my time with Barcelona, that I can enjoy playing in Spain more than in Italy. The football in Spain is more entertaining, you see more chances and more goals.
Between 1998 and 2002 you had all of those injuries. Did you ever think you wouldn’t play again?
It never occurred to me. I always knew I would play again – and I don’t worry about a recurrence. The fans were incredible to me. They helped me in my recoveries. That’s why I would never complain about the pressures of fame.
Do you ever think back to that disastrous World Cup final of 1998?
Never. What happened in France is best forgotten. A lot of nonsense has been written and spoken about it. But to what point? It’s all in the past now. You can’t change anything. So it’s far better to be positive about the present and the future.
Do you have any football ambitions left to achieve?
I’ve never won the Champions League, but I’ve achieved the most important ambition – being able to play again.
Top 10 Players of 2002
Player Club Country % of vote 1) Ronaldo Inter/Real Madrid Brazil 26.17 2) Michael Ballack B. Leverkusen/B. Munich Germany 17.69 3) Roberto Carlos Real Madrid Brazil 8.48 4) Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid France 5.95 5) Oliver Kahn Bayern Munich Germany 4.87 6) Rivaldo Barcelona/Milan Brazil 3.61 7) Raul Real Madrid Spain 3.42 8) Thierry Henry Arsenal France 3.24 9) Michael Owen Liverpool England 2.44 10) Ronaldinho Paris Saint-Germain Brazil 2.26
Ronaldo and Ronaldinho…first and tenth in the poll
Other World Soccer Award winners 2002
World Champions…Selecao
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Brazil
