Ronaldo equals all time record
Ronaldo equals all time record
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Thursday, 22, Jun 2006 10:56
Brazil's Ronaldo has answered his critics with a brace of goals to equal German legend Gerd Muller's World Cup record of 14 goals in his fourth tournament.
The big Brazilian front man has come under pressure for his weight and fitness and it was thought this game was his last chance to impress at the finals.
He has had a poor season for Real Madrid but always seems to come good when the World Cup arrives.
Ronaldo never played although he was in the squad in 1994. But he was the undisputed star of world football in 1998 and despite illness in the final he finished as the tournament's top scorer.
Going into the last World Cup in Japan and South Korea, Ronaldo's form was again being questioned but he responded by finishing as the top scorer again and led Brazil to lift the trophy.
Ronaldo said: "The record wasn't my main goal. I just wanted to be there for the team. I'm very happy I've made such a significant improvement physically and technically during the competition.
"I have been very patient. If you don't have that you can't keep progressing. You have to keep working and not lose heart."
The 29-year-old is now two goals behind this year's tournament's early leading scorer Germany's Miroslav Klose on four, Fernando Torres has three goals so far.