Many people disagree with FIFA's recent decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, these people clearly lack knowledge of this wonderful country that undoubtedly deserves this honor. Qatar boasts sponsorship laws described as akin to modern-day slavery and eating, drinking, and smoking outdoors is not allowed during Ramadan. The Qatar Distribution Company remains the country's only importer and retailer for alcohol which is sure to supply the hordes of World Cup travelers with their alcoholic beverages of choice. Qatar's government is even kind enough to allow women to legally drive.
Qatar is located in the Middle East, currently one of the safest places in the world, over an unfathomable 4,416 square miles. The weather conditions in Qatar are also ideal for one of the world's greatest competitions. In June and July, the months during which the World Cup takes place, the average low temperatures are 81 and 84 degrees respectively and the average high temperatures are 106 and 115 degrees respectively. What better way to take the pitch than in 100 degree weather?
Qatar also has a rich soccer history deserving of this competition. Soccer is slightly ahead of cricket as the most popular sport in the country, displaying the undying passion for the sport. The country's soccer-filled past culminates with a second place showing by Qatar's under 20 national team placing second in the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship after a nail-biting 4-0 loss to the Germans.
Qatar, a thirty-nine year old country, with a population the size of Connecticut at 1.7 million people, with fifty hotels and six airports (four of which are paved), temperatures north of 100 degrees, and oppresses women is the ideal location to host a worldwide tournament.
This guy could simply outrun opponents with the ball at his feet. Ronaldo said he never timed himself over 100 meters, but he did do tests over shorter distances of 20 to 30 meters with and without the ball. Amazingly, he says he recorded faster times with the ball at his feet! Ronaldo would pick up the ball anywhere on the pitch and run fearlessly into the defense challenging them to stop his slaloming runs.
9. Step overs
Ronaldo possesses many great talents and abilities, but the step overs became a trademark for him. Unlike many other players, Ronaldo actually uses the move to beat defenders. He was able to use step overs to create space for himself to get off a shot or take off toward goal. What is truly remarkable about the Brazilian is his ability to use step overs inside the box. Despite the tight, constricting confines of the box, Ronaldo beat defenders and the goalie with perfectly executed step overs.
8. Rounding Goalkeepers
Ronaldo was a goalkeepers worst nightmare. Streaking toward the goal with blazing speed R9 made a habit of dribbling around helpless goalkeepers. Ronaldo said he "loves to score goals after passing all the defenders as well as the keeper. That is not my specialty, but my habit."
7. Goal to Game Ratio
Ronaldo is just a pure goal scorer. He has produced goals at every club he has been a part of. In his career he has played in 511 games and netted 352 goals, an astonishing .682 goal to game ratio. Any player would dream to score goals with that regularity.
Ronaldo's great play was recognized everywhere he played by the tremendous amount of awards he won. Most notably Ronaldo was awarded the FIFA World Player of the year award an astounding three times including when he was twenty years old! Ronaldo and Zidane are the only two players to win the award three times. Ronaldo was also the recipient of the prestigious Ballon D'or award twice and was elected to the Brazilian National Hall of Fame in 2006. A complete list of Ronaldo's awards and accolades follows:
Goal.com : Player of a decade: Winner 2000-2010[34]
5. Injuries
Unfortunately, throughout Ronaldo's career he was plagued by knee problems that started in his young career while he was playing for PSV. At PSV Ronaldo had knee surgery to repair an overstretched ligament. The final of the 1998 World Cup in France marked the beginning of his very serious injuries. Ronaldo experienced some type of seizure hours before the World Cup final and was initially not in Brazil's starting lineup. However, by game time, Ronaldo was back, but it was a sad display as a ghost of Ronaldo helplessly roamed the field while Zidane and France walked away with the championship. Ronaldo played very little after the World Cup final and when he took the field in 2000 against Lazio, Ronaldo seriously injured his knee moments after subbing in. Doctor's gave the Brazilian a low chance of playing soccer again.
This was a dark time for Ronaldo, spending all his time in the hospital not knowing if would be able to play the game he loved so much again. Zidane was the only player to visit Ronaldo in the hospital during this time, an act that Ronaldo greatly appreciated and has noted in interviews.
Ronaldo did in fact recover from this injury and triumphed at the 2002 World Cup, helping Brazil to the title while scoring 8 goals and winning the Golden Boot. He then went on to have many solid seasons at Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. Ronaldo would experience more injuries in his career, but his determination and will always lifted him to the top of the wonderful game of soccer.
Injuries are also the reason that Ronaldo put on weight at times during his career. Some started referring to him as "gordo" and poking fun at his weight, but he put on the extra weight because his injuries prevented him from practicing and staying fit. Despite what he was called, Ronaldo continued to score goals even when he was "fat."
4. Jose Mourinho's Praise
Legendary coach Jose Mourinho has praised Ronaldo as the greatest player his "eyes have ever seen." Mourinho was a translator for Barcelona when Ronaldo played for the club and fondly remembers how the Brazilian played.
3. Preparation
Ronaldo is a very unique player possessing many skills and talents. However, I can only smile when I found out about how the guy would prepare for games, and I'm not speaking about practice. Ronaldo said the secret to his success is he has to have sex before games. Not just any sex, it has to be the right kind. He says that the female has to do all the work so that he doesn't use up all his energy before the game. Ronaldo when he was with Real Madrid:
"Sex a couple of hours before a match is the key to my success. The man has to be passive and enjoy the experience. This relaxes him and gives him a load of energy. If the player is too active during sex, then he is wasting energy which he will lack during the match."
No explanation need here, Ronaldo is the man.
2. World Cup goals
Ronaldo's 15 World Cup goals are the most in the history of the competition. Ronaldo is the best World Cup scorer for the World Cup's greatest nation, Brazil.
1. Barcelona season (1996-1997)
The one season Ronaldo spent at Barcelona was simply amazing. The way he carried the offense and flew toward the goal taking on entire defenses on his own was spectacular. He scored an unprecedented 47 goals in 49 matches across all competitions. This season was truly one of the greatest individual performances the beautiful game of futbol has ever witnessed.
