Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)
A Brazilian striker whose explosive power and clinical finishing redefined the center-forward role and captivated the world.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Brazilian footballer·Birthday: September 18·Generation X
Biography
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima won the World Cup with Brazil twice, in 1994 and 2002. His runs blended terrifying pace with balletic control, leaving defenders in his wake before he coolly slotted the ball home. Devastating knee injuries challenged his career, but he fought to overcome them. The visceral thrill he provided—the feeling that something extraordinary could happen whenever he touched the ball—defined his place in football.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ronaldo was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ronaldo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Ronaldo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the FIFA World Cup twice with Brazil, in 1994 and 2002, being the star of the 2002 tournament.
- Received the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times (1996, 1997, 2002).
- Won the Ballon d'Or twice, in 1997 and 2002.
- Scored 15 goals in World Cup tournaments, a record at the time of his retirement.
Did You Know?
He suffered a mysterious seizure just hours before the 1998 World Cup final, affecting his performance.
After retiring, he became the majority owner of Spanish club Real Valladolid.
His nickname 'Il Fenomeno' (The Phenomenon) was coined during his time playing for Inter Milan in Italy.
“I’ve never seen anyone, before or since, change direction at such a speed with the ball.”
