Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, born on 18 September 1976 in Itaguaí, Brazil, is a former professional striker widely known as "O Fenômeno" and regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His club career saw him break world transfer records twice—joining Barcelona in 1996 and Inter Milan in 1997—before moving to Real Madrid in 2002, though a series of severe knee injuries sidelined him for nearly three years before he retired in 2011. For Brazil, he won the 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, scored twice in the 2002 final to claim the Golden Boot, and set a then-record 15 World Cup goals by 2006, while also earning the Golden Ball at the 1998 tournament. His individual accolades include three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, two Ballon d'Or trophies, and a place in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, alongside inductions into multiple Halls of Fame. After retiring, he became a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and transitioned into club ownership, buying Real Valladolid in 2018 and his boyhood club Cruzeiro in 2021, before selling his Cruzeiro stake in 2024. Growing up in Bento Ribeiro, he dropped out of school at 11 to pursue football—a decision that ultimately led to a legendary career.