Stars

Tearful Ronaldo announces retirement from football

(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-02-15 11:33

Corinthians Days

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo arrives for his first training session with Corinthians in Sao Paolo in this March 3, 2009 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Ronaldo's exit comes two days after former Brazil teammate Roberto Carlos left Corinthians because he and his family were being threatened by fans after the Copa Libertadores elimination. Last year, Corinthians failed to win any titles in its centenary year.

"I want to publicly apologize for failing in the Libertadores project," Ronaldo said, crying, before team president Andres Sanchez handed him a jersey with the words "forever" and "phenomenon."

The last of Ronaldo's more than 400 career goals came from a penalty in a 1-0 win over Cruzeiro in the Brazilian league on November 13. The last match was the 2-0 Copa Libertadores loss to Deportes Tolima on February 2 in Colombia.

"I'll miss it a lot," Ronaldo said, without talking much about his plans for the future. "With this announcement, it feels like it's my first death."

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo holds a Corinthians' jersey during a news conference in Sao Paulo February 14, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]