Words Giovanni Maria Seregni
On 12 October 1996, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima picks up the ball in his own half and dribbles through the entire Compostela defence, scoring one the best goals in La Liga history.
Barcelona’s new number 9 does things man cannot do.
On the bench, José Mourinho is Bobby Robson’s Assistant Coach. The ‘Special One’ is impressed and later declares he’s never seen anyone like him in his career, telling the world in 2020 that Ronaldo, not Cristiano and not Lionel Messi; “was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field”. Real Madrid’s Head Coach Jorge Valdano agreed with a blunt assessment of his own; “he is not a human”.
Back to 1996. The Brazilian ace is nominated by international coaches and captains alike as FIFA World Player of the Year, but loses out by one vote to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Matthias Sammer as winner of the Ballon d’Or. It is alleged that French football journalists refuse to vote for Ronaldo because he strikes them as odd. Perhaps it is a fear of the unknown since no-one has played like him before. The German is a fine footballer, but the Barça striker is unique and now known as ‘O Fenômeno’ - ‘the phenomenon’, a term comes from the ancient Greek ‘fàinomai’, which means to appear. Ronaldo as a prophet, an apparition.
Having made his debut in 1993 and gone to USA 94, but not featured, as a 17-year old, Ronaldo is called up by the Seleçao for the 1997 Copa America in Bolivia.
Brazil gets to the final against the host, beating them 3-1. O Fenômeno took his tally for the tournament to five with a powerful strike into the top left corner. It earns him the best player of the tournament title.
Knowing his new worth on the global stage, Ronaldo’s agent wants to negotiate his client’s contract. Barcelona, also know it and are less keen, believing they have already secured an agreement for him to stay. There is interest from Internazionale. Italy’s Serie A has a reputation as one of the best in the world. The Brazilian is keen to test himself there and asks to leave. Barça don’t want to lose him, nor do La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation initially refuses to release the necessary documents to allow the Nerazzurri to complete a then-world-record £19m deal. As opposition defences have found though, O Fenômeno can’t be stopped and neither can the transfer.
Ronaldo’s debut for Internazionale arrives on 31 August 1997 against Brescia. Despite not scoring, Ronaldo exhibits his class. A debut goal is ruled out by the flag of an Assistant Referee and a penalty claim is waved away after O Fenômeno appears to be tripped. Regardless, Inter win 2-1.
Next, Inter face Bologna. Another star of world football, Roberto Baggio scores from a long-distance free kick, but Ronaldo is not to be upstaged and beats two defenders before finishing off the inside of the post for his first Serie A goal. It would not be the last.
At the end of the season Ronaldo has scored 25 goals, a record for a Serie A rookie. Again a German denies him an individual award however as Udinese striker Oliver Bierhoff beats him to the top scorer award with 27.
Nor do Internazionale win the Scudetto, finishing second to Juventus. But the UEFA Cup brings joy and silverware.
The semi-final sees Inter and Ronaldo come up against Spartak Moscow. Leading from the first-leg, the Nerazzurri head to a freezing Russia. Battling a blizzard, Spartak level the tie on aggregate, but O Fenômeno scores twice securing an all-Italian final v Lazio.
The Biancocelesti would end up being the opponents for the highest and lowest points of Ronaldo’s Internazionale career. This was the high point. A sublime piece of skill buys Ronaldo the time and space to slam home a magnificent goal, in a 3-0 rout.
More silverware follows as Ronaldo wins his first Ballon d'Or after the delusional loss of the previous edition. It also earns him the highest praise from his opponents.
“I fear nobody but Ronaldo and Maradona” exclaimed former AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini. Juventus captain Fabio Cannavaro told the world; “He was unstoppable. At first, he would overtake you, secondly, he would burn you and at third he would humiliate you.” While Alessandro Nesta echoed Mourinho by saying, “I have dealt with Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo. The latter is the best player against whom I have ever played”.
At the end of the season, Ronaldo headed to France 98 with the Seleçao. They stroll to the Final, but a seizure the night before the game robs the world of a fully-fit O Fenômeno and the French hosts win their first World Cup.
The World Cup weighs heavy and the following season Ronaldo appears dejected, suffering numerous injuries and barely playing at his peak. In response, Inter break their transfer record again, acquiring Christian Vieri from Lazio for 90 million Lire. The idea is to play the Italian alongside O Fenômeno, but it doesn’t quite happen and in three years, they are only able to play together 14 times.
Then on 21 November 1999, the Brazilian striker suffered a devastating injury to his right knee. It was suggested he may never play again such was the damage, but a mere five months later he plays a Coppa Italia final against Lazio. The knee gives up again.
Again Ronaldo battles back and during 2001-2002 the Brazilian ace hits seven goals. Added to Christian Vieri’s 22, Inter are in a title race that goes to the wire. On 5 May 2002, Inter welcome Lazio to the San Siro, but despite the Nerazzurri scoring the first goal, Lazio take advantage of the home side’s tension and fight back to win 4-2. Juventus benefit and win the 26th Scudetto. Ronaldo, who has been substituted during the game is immortalised in a photo, distraught and visibly crying.
With the season over, Ronaldo again had a World Cup to focus on and finally it would bring him joy. Having missed the entire qualification campaign through injury, Brazil had stumbled their way to the Finals, but once in Japan and South Korea, with O Fenômeno leading the line, they were superb.
Before the tournament kicked off, Ronaldo explained his injury-ravaged campaign was providing his motivation; "Sometimes I look back and think about the surgery when I was lying in a hospital bed and blood was dripping from my knee. I think about that time, and the pain, and it gives me strength"
That strength translated into performances and he finished the tournament with the Golden Boot, having scored in every round, bar the quarter-final victory over England, including a superb double against Germany in the Final to take his tally to eight and realising a childhood dream; “I used to visualise the trophy in front of my eyes and imagine what a wonderful feeling it must be to hold it up in the air. It was a fabulous feeling actually to hold it in my hands and kiss it”.
On his return to Europe, Real Madrid offered Inter an irresistible proposal, offering €45 million for Ronaldo, who had earlier clashed with new boss Héctor Cúper. The Nerazzurri hierarchy accepted Los Galacticos’ bid and with that O Fenômeno bid his farewells to Milan.
