WhereIsAtlas · Football
What Happened to Ronaldo Nazário?
The Brazilian phenomenon "R9" — a World Cup-winning striker and one of football's greatest ever, now a club owner.
Ronaldo Nazário — "R9" — won two World Cups with Brazil and is one of the greatest strikers in football history. He retired in 2011 and is now a businessman and football club owner.
The original Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, known simply as Ronaldo and nicknamed "R9", was born in 1976 in Brazil. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time — a player of explosive pace, ruthless finishing and astonishing ball control.
A superstar of the 1990s and 2000s
Ronaldo played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, scoring goals at every stop. He won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002 as the tournament's top scorer, giving one of the great World Cup final performances.
The European and world powers
Alongside his club brilliance, Ronaldo was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or twice. His blend of speed, strength and skill made him a phenomenon — the player who defined the modern striker.
Where Ronaldo Nazário is now
Ronaldo retired from playing in 2011 and turned to business. He has been a football club owner — co-owning a Spanish side and, most recently, part of a group buying a historic Brazilian club. He remains one of football's most recognised figures, his "R9" brand enduring long after his playing days.
Entries in this story
Sources
- Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer) - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
- Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos buy a historic Brazilian club — El Economista (2026-09-05)