Ronaldo Nazário was a phenomenon, a Brazilian striker whose combination of blistering pace, strength and impossibly quick feet made him, at his devastating best, arguably the finest centre-forward the game has produced. Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, he tore through defences with a directness and finishing that seemed almost unfair.
He starred at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid and beyond, winning individual honours as the world’s outstanding player and recovering from serious knee injuries that would have ended lesser careers. His redemption arrived at the 2002 World Cup, where his goals carried Brazil to the title and completed one of sport’s great comeback stories. For all the injuries, his peak remains a benchmark of attacking brilliance.