The 5 Greatest strikers of all time

#3. Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima

Ronaldo is one of the greatest strikers to have played the game. He set the Dutch League alight as a prodigious teenager with PSV Eindhoven and was called O Fenomeno or The Phenomenon.

Ronaldo joined Barcelona from PSV in 1996 and was with them for a season. He scored an astonishing 47 goals in 49 matches in the solitary season he played for Barca and won the Copa Del Rey and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with them.

He then joined Inter Milan in 1997, but his career got hampered by a terrible injury while playing for the Italian giants. He joined Real Madrid in 2002 and played there till 2007. Ronaldo scored a very impressive 352 goals from 518 matches in his club career and also won the Ballon d’Or twice. He also won two La Liga titles and one UEFA Cup Winners Cup title in his career.

He also won two World Cups with the Brazilian national team and finished runner-up once. He scored 15 goals in three World Cups and was the top goal-scorer in World Cups till Miroslav Klose broke his record in 2014. Ronaldo also scored a brace in the final of the World Cup in 2002 to win it for his country. He also remains one of the very few players to have won the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball in World Cups. He also won two Copa America titles for Brazil. He scored 62 goals in 98 matches for the Brazilian national team.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Nnanna Mba