Plagued by injuries, slowed by his increasing weight and even wearing special socks to combat his varicose veins, Ronaldo's final year as a footballer is not shaping up to be the fairy tale send-off a legend like him deserves. Though he's proven he can still score goals with ease at Corinthians, he's now paying for ignoring all those warning signs over the last few years telling him to move on.
On Wednesday night, Corinthians lost 2-0 to Deportes Tolima in the second leg of their Copa Libertadores preliminary round tie. After a 0-0 first leg in Sao Paulo, this knocked Corinthians out of the tournament and made them the first Brazilian club to EVER fail to qualify in the preliminary round.
Obviously, the fans were not pleased. From Reuters:
Fans also turned up at Sao Paulo airport to protest against the team but the players boarded a bus and cars directly from their plane and left under police escort.
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo was called a "shameless fatty" in one of the slogans painted on the walls of the club's headquarters. Others said "Ronaldo out" and "Ronaldo propaganda-kid" in reference to adverts exploiting the 34-year-old's image.
At the club's training complex, TV pictures showed players' imported cars being damaged by stones thrown by fans.
Corinthians fans have been quick to turn on Ronaldo before when he's seemed more interested in going to nightclubs than training and they've certainly made fun of his weight their fair share, but this is a new low.
It's hard not to see this as a vision of Christmas future for Ronaldinho, who happened to make his debut before throngs of celebrating Flamengo fans on the same night Corinthians fans decided Ronaldo's legend is now worthless. Of course, it's also sad that it's come to this for a man who has done so much for the game and for Brazilian football. To become a scapegoat of an entire team's troubles. But at the same time, it happens. And by hanging around, it was almost inevitable that it would happen to Ronaldo.
So be careful, Ronaldinho. If you hang on too long, don't take care of yourself enough or suffer one too many historic indignities, this could be your fate.
Photos: Getty, Globoesporte
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