Few football figures in history have garnered as much respect and exuded the aura of Brazilian sensation Ronaldo.

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima burst onto the scene in the 1990s, hailed for his lightning-fast speed, silky skills, and clinical striker instincts. Though he didn’t feature in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup victory, he became a star in the 1998 and 2002 editions, helping secure his football-obsessed nation’s fifth title.

At the club level, he embarked on a European adventure after starting at Cruzeiro, playing for renowned teams like PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. Along this glittering career path, he claimed the prestigious Ballon d’Or award twice. All the while, his mesmerizing on-field performance was accompanied by a colorful and high-profile off-field lifestyle.

One eyebrow-raising moment occurred after his exceptional performance in the 2002 World Cup final against Germany when he was asked if winning the Jules Rimet trophy was better than sex. Sporting a cheeky grin, he responded that while both were satisfying, winning the World Cup, which only happens every four years, held a unique reward.

Ronaldo’s passion for romantic encounters was evident in his 2011 interview with a Brazilian TV station during his time at Corinthians. He confessed to occasionally engaging in intimate encounters before matches, believing it helped him concentrate better on the field.

However, Ronaldo’s amorous escapades weren’t without consequences. During his stint at AC Milan in April 2008, he found himself in a controversial situation. Seeking stress relief, he visited his then-fiancée Maria Beatriz Antony’s home before picking up three individuals from a nightclub, assuming they were women. To his surprise, they turned out to be cross-dressing men, leading to a heated altercation.

The Brazilian media quickly learned of this incident, revealing that Ronaldo had offered each of the individuals a £300 payout as they tried to extort money from him. Despite the commotion, the police reported Ronaldo’s allegations and suggested he may have been a victim of extortion.

Despite the turmoil, Ronaldo’s love life continued to make headlines. His dating history featured a string of glamorous models who were part of his high-profile lifestyle. He married Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues in 1999, although they divorced four years later. In 2005, he became engaged to Brazilian model and MTV journalist Daniela Cicarelli, culminating in a lavish wedding and a brief marriage.

In recent years, Ronaldo’s off-field escapades have mellowed, as he settled down with model Celina Locks, whom he married in a charming church ceremony in Ibiza in September 2023. The couple shares a loving relationship, with Ronaldo being a father to four children from previous relationships.

Despite his retirement from football, Ronaldo’s openness about his personal life, including undergoing a vasectomy and freezing his sperm, continues to make headlines, adding to the mystique of this football legend.