Inter president Massimo Moratti has praised retiring striker Ronaldo, describing him as the best of all time.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has praised retiring striker Ronaldo, describing him as the best of all time.
The Brazilian legend, who spent five years with Inter from 1997 to 2002, announced his retirement yesterday.
"I'm sorry he will stop playing," the Nerazzurri supremo was quoted as saying by inter.it.
"Ronaldo is the greatest striker in history. There is affection and esteem for him. There was the pleasure of those who saw him play in our shirt during a special year. For us it was a privilege. I wish him well in the future."
Ronaldo's career arguably reached its zenith with his masterly performances at the 2002 World Cup, but three serious knee injuries cast a pall over his later years in sport.
The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year will perhaps be best remembered for his international exploits, having scored 15 World Cup goals, breaking the record previously held by Gerd Muller.
He scored eight goals in the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea alone, including both goals in the 2-0 final victory over Germany, and in total scored 62 times for Brazil in 97 appearances.
But the latter years of his career had been little more than a constant struggle for fitness, and in announcing his retirement yesterday Ronaldo admitted he was giving up an uneven struggle. "The pain made me anticipate the end of my career.
"Mentally I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost to my body," he said.
