Brazil's Ronaldo celebrates his goal against Ghana during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Dortmund June 27, 20006. [Reuters]

He may not be done yet, either. Ronaldo has three goals in the last two games. If Brazil wins a sixth title, and it's the favorite, Ronaldo will have three more games to add to his goal haul.

"I want to continue to increase the record," he said, "but without forgetting that the main goal in the World Cup is winning the title."

There are plenty who will argue that Pele is the best the game has ever seen. A three-time world champion, he played with a joy and grace that enchanted the world. People who never cared about soccer watched simply to see him, and he remains an icon to those who only know him from the stories.

He is still the youngest player to score at a World Cup, and finished with 12 goals in four World Cup appearances. He is Brazil's career scoring leader with 95 goals in 114 matches.

But when it comes to the biggest stage, Ronaldo has him beat. He has bumped Pele to fourth on the list of all-time goals, and he could equal Pele's three World Cup titles in the July 9 final in Berlin.

"Ronaldo is a special player," Parreira said. "He's a player for the big and good moments."

A player for the tough moments, too.

Already a two-time world player of the year, Ronaldo missed four months in 1999 when he tore up his knee while with Inter Milan and needed surgery. His first match back was the 2000 Italian Cup final, and it almost ended his career. Six minutes after coming into the game, he twisted his knee and had to be carried, weeping, off the field on a stretcher.

He would miss almost 17 months, and his appearance at the 2002 World Cup was hardly a given. Even when he made the team, few expected him to be anything close to the old Ronaldo.

Page:

1

2

3