Former Brazil striker Ronaldo announced his retirement on Monday, ending one of the most successful careers in soccer.
The 34-year-old three-times FIFA World Player of the Year, a twice World Cup winner and the record goalscorer in World Cup tournaments, said injuries and fitness problems prevented him from playing to his best form.
"I came here to say today that I'm ending my career as a professional player," Ronaldo, with his two sons at his side, told a packed news conference at Corinthians' training complex in Sao Paulo.
Ronaldo, who had a contract with Corinthians until the end of the year, said his fitness problems were the overriding reason for his decision.
He said he discovered while playing for AC Milan in Italy that he was suffering from a thyroid problem.
"Four years ago at Milan I discovered I was suffering from a complaint called hypothyroidism, which slows down your metabolism and to control it I would have to take some hormones that are not permitted in football because of anti-doping," Ronaldo said.
"I wanted to clarify this on the last day of my career," added Ronaldo, who has struggled to keep his weight down and often suffered the jibe of "fatty" during his career.
Ronaldo broke down in tears when he apologised to the Corinthians fans for failing to deliver the major prize of the Libertadores Cup and said he would still go to their matches as a supporter.
Corinthians were dumped out of South America's elite club competition, which they have never won, in the preliminary round two weeks ago. They went out in the round of 16 in 2010, their centenary year.
Ronaldo career highlights
- Born, September 22, 1976 on outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
- Together with Zinedine Zidane, he is the only player to have won the FIFA World Player of the Year award on three occasions (1996, 1997 and 2002). He also won the European Footballer of the Year award twice (1997 and 2002).
- Won two World Cups (1994 and 2002) with Brazil and holds the record for goals scored in World Cup tournaments with 15. Also won the Copa America twice with Brazil (1997, 1999).
- Won his first cap for Brazil as a 17-year-old and went on to score 62 goals in 97 international appearances.
- Suffered a mysterious illness hours before the 1998 World Cup final in France but after first being named as a substitute, he was included in the starting lineup. He played badly and Brazil lost 3-0 to France.
- Had problems with his knees throughout his career, undergoing surgery while at Inter Milan and AC Milan. Spent almost two years out of the game while recovering from surgery after his knee buckled in the Italian Cup final against Lazio in April 2000.
- His best season came at Barcelona in 1996-97 when he scored 47 goals in 49 games. Totalled more than 400 goals in his career with seven clubs having made his debut at Cruzeiro.
- His moves to Barcelona ($19.5 million) and Inter Milan ($27.9) were both then world record fees. Real Madrid paid 43 million euros ($58.26 million) for him in August 2002.
- Won only one league title in his first season at Real Madrid. Never won the European Cup but won the Cup Winners' Cup with Barcelona, the UEFA Cup while at Inter and the old Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid.
- Married Brazilian female footballer and model Milene Domingues in December 1999. The couple had a child, Ronald, and were divorced four years later. In 2005, got engaged to Brazilian model Daniella Cicarelli, marking the occasion with a lavish St Valentine's celebration at a French chateau. The couple split up three months later.
- Following another knee operation while at AC Milan, he returned to Brazil and joined Corinthians in 2009 but an arrival heralded as key in the team's bid to win South America's Libertadores Cup for the first time ended in disappointment with only the lesser Copa Brasil and Paulista (Sao Paulo) state titles.
