Don't write-off Ronaldo yet

Rio De Janeiro (Brazil): Brazil striker Ronaldo has spent most of the season battling against the weighing machine and fans of his club Real Madrid, prompting some pundits to write him off for the World Cup.

Ronaldo has already proved at the 2002 World Cup that he is at his most dangerous in adversity.

He is also the type of player who saves his best for his country rather than his club.

Four years ago, Ronaldo had only just recovered from three years of injury misery, which included two major knee operations.

Some even said that Brazil coach in 2002, Luiz Felipe Scolari was irresponsible for picking him.

Yet he finished as top scorer in the tournament with eight goals, including two in the final, as Brazil won their fifth World Cup. This time, it is Ronaldo's pride that has been hurt.

Ronaldo has taken much of the blame for the failure of Real Madrid's so-called Galacticos to live up to their billing and recently has even found himself left on the bench.

He has been booed by the supporters and severely criticised by the Spanish media.

The situation deteriorated still further earlier this year when he said he felt unloved by the club's fans. It has not helped, either, that he has looked sluggish and overweight at times.

Still only 29, Ronaldo will be taking part in his fourth World Cup. In 1994, he was included as a 17-year-old but was not given a game.

Four years later, he arrived amid huge expectations and failed to live up to them, despite scoring four goals.

His illness before the final against France is still clouded in mystery and his poor performance in that match has never really been fully explained.

Then came 2002, the year of his dramatic resurgence. In all three tournaments, Brazil reached the final.

Ronaldo first came to prominence in 1993 with Cruzeiro where he scored 58 goals in 60 matches which earned him his spot in the 1994 squad.

A move to Europe and PSV Eindhoven followed and worked out well with Ronaldo winning domestic and European honours and being named World Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997.

Further moves to Inter Milan, Barcelona and finally Real Madrid sealed his reputation as one of the great players of the modern age, something he can still enhance in Germany.