Sports/Olympics / Newsmaker

Ronaldo is famous name you need to know
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-28 08:42

Brazil's Ronaldo (R) scores his team's first goal past Ghana's John Painstil during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Dortmund June 27, 2006. [Reuters]
Brazil's Ronaldo (R) scores his team's first goal past Ghana's John Painstil during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Dortmund June 27, 2006. [Reuters]

On a team of famous one-namers, there is only one you need to know: Ronaldo.

He's not to be confused with Ronaldinho, Robinho, Ze Roberto or any other brilliant Brazilian "o." He may have lost a step or two, and no one will ever describe him as svelte. Ronaldinho has surpassed him on many levels.

When it comes to the World Cup, though, not even Pele, the trendsetter for soccer's single-name elite, is Ronaldo's equal.

"He is a player that records belong to him," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said Tuesday. "He is again on top of every player in the world. He's scored more goals than any player at the World Cup. His name is on top."

And it will take a very special player to knock him off.

Ronaldo scored his 15th goal in 18 World Cup matches in Brazil's 3-0 victory over Ghana on Tuesday, making him the tournament's all-time scoring leader. Pele, Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthaeus, Berti Vogts, Bebeto, none of them did what Ronaldo has done.

"It was never my goal" to break the record, he said. "It just happened match after match."
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