Ronaldo Is Back

Brazilian striker Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima, once the hottest property in the football world, and previously compared to the likes of Pele, is set to return to action for his club team Internazionale of Italy after two injury filled years.

The man who led Brazil's World Cup '98 hopes, until the Final, which will be remembered as a sorry one in Brazilian history, has returned to full training, and will play his first proper match within the next 14 days.

Ronaldo, 24, joined Inter in 1997 after successful stints at Barcelona FC (Spain), PSV Eindhoven (The Netherlands), and Cruzeiro (Brazil), where his goal's tallied 127 in 148 games, which was almost a goal-a-game and not counting his goals for first club Sao Cristoval.

Since joining Inter, one of the best, and not to forget, wealthiest football clubs in the world, Ronaldo quickly resumed where he left off, ending the first season well, scoring in 25 of the 32 games he played in. The problems began after the World Cup of that summer, picking up his first injury, ligament damage on his knee.

Ronaldo marked a return to the game at the Copa America of 1999, where he scored seven goals and helped his nation to the title. He played few games during the season of 1999-2000, in fact only seven before needing an operation after he got injured in his first match for his club on return to Italy after a Nike Brazil tour to Australia.

Tragedy struck once more in his return match from injury, collapsing on his first real involvement in the Cup-tie against Lazio in April 2000. Another lay off resulted, and this one for the whole of season 2000-01. Ronaldo needed another operation, a much more serious one than the previous, and plenty of recovery and rehabilitation.

An explosive striker who scores goals at will, Ronaldo will hopefully be the main focal point for his nation in next years World Cup. Inter will also be pinning its hopes on a great season by him, and also hope that his partnership with fellow striker Christian Vieri flourishes.

With a return to domestic football, there will be no doubt that, with fitness, will come his eagerly awaited return for Brazil. They are of course in danger of missing out on a World Cup spot, but Ronaldo believes that they need not worry, and that they will be there come next year.

With the speed of a cheetah, the handling of a Porsche, and the finishing of a marksman, there is no reason why he cannot be the best in world football once more. Let's just hope that his spell of injury is dead and buried.

So it has come down to the moment of truth. The No. 9 shirt is calling him, and now that he is fully recovered and readying himself for a mammoth comeback, the ball lies in his court. I'm sure he is ready.