Ronaldo

Sao Paulo: Inter coach Leonardo believes retired legend Ronaldo was better than Barcelona ace Lionel Messi.

The Brazilian striker bowed out of the game on Monday. As his photo was splashed across the front pages of nearly every Brazilian newspaper, Ronaldo doesn’t plan to disappear from the football world. He said he would remain active with the sports marketing agency he owns and will continue his partnership with the many sponsors he helped bring to Corinthians.

Leonardo, who played alongside him with the Selecao, insists Ronaldo is in the same bracket as Diego Maradona and Pele. “I also think he is the greatest striker in the history of football,” said Leonardo. “Messi is reaching great levels but after Maradona and Pele, for me, it’s Ronaldo.

“I followed his press conference and it is like losing a symbol. I know him and I knew what was happening, but he will remain among the best.”

“Thank you, Phenomenon,” read a headline at a leading Brazilian daily on Tuesday as the former striker is already starting to plan his future.

Possessing charisma, he will be able to remain in the spotlight in Brazil and abroad just like all-time great Pele, capitalising on sponsorship deals and his good connections in football.

“I will be some kind of institutional ambassador,” Ronaldo said when announcing his retirement on Monday. “Taking Corinthians’ name abroad, helping attract even more (money to the club).”

“I wish him a lot of success with whatever he chooses to do, I’m sure he will be a phenomenon in his new career too,” former Brazil teammate Kaka said. “He was the best player I ever saw.”

“It was sad to hear he was retiring,” former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “We are not talking about just any player, we are talking about one of the greatest players that football has ever known, among the top five all-time.”

Two-time Fifa player of the year Ronaldinho said Ronaldo “was an example to all of us” and former Brazil star Rivaldo said that Ronaldo “meant a lot to football” everywhere he played.

Romario, who starred at the 1994 World Cup while Ronaldo was just a teenager in the squad, also praised the striker. “I’ll miss him,” he said. “We won’t be able see one of the greatest players in the history of football.”