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Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (Brazilian Portuguese: ; born 18 September 1976), commonly known as Ronaldo or Ronaldo Nazário, is a Brazilian business owner, president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, owner of Brasileiro Série B club Cruzeiro and a retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Popularly dubbed O Fenômeno ('The Phenomenon') and also nicknamed R9, he is widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time. As a multi-functional striker who brought a new dimension to the position, Ronaldo has been the influence for a generation of strikers that have followed. His individual accolades include being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and winning two Ballon d'Or awards.
Ronaldo started his career at Cruzeiro and moved to PSV in 1994. He joined Barcelona in 1996 for a then world record transfer fee and at 20 years old, he was named the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year, making him the youngest recipient of the award. In 1997, Inter Milan broke the world record fee to sign Ronaldo, making him the first player since Diego Maradona to break the world transfer record twice. At 21, he received the 1997 Ballon d'Or and remains the youngest recipient of the award. By the age of 23, Ronaldo had scored over 200 goals for club and country. However, after a series of knee injuries and recuperation, he was inactive for almost three years. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002 and won the 2002–03 La Liga title. He had spells at AC Milan and Corinthians before retiring in 2011, having suffered further injuries.
Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 matches, scoring 62 goals and is the third-highest goalscorer for his national team. At age 17, he was the youngest member of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament after he helped Brazil reach the final, where he suffered a convulsive fit hours before kick-off. He won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, starring in a front three with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. He scored twice in the final and received the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goalscorer. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal, a tournament record at the time. He also won the 1997 Copa América, where he became the player of the tournament and the 1999 Copa América, where he was the top goalscorer.
One of the most marketable sportsmen in the world during his playing career, the first Nike Mercurial boots called R9 were commissioned for Ronaldo in 1998. He was named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players compiled in 2004 by Pelé also and was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame, Italian Football Hall of Fame, Inter Milan Hall of Fame and Real Madrid Hall of Fame. In 2020, Ronaldo was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, a greatest all-time XI published by France Football magazine. In retirement from sport, Ronaldo has continued his work as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, a position to which he was appointed in 2000. He served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo became the majority owner of Real Valladolid in September 2018, after buying 51% of the club's shares. In December 2021, he bought a controlling stake in his boyhood club Cruzeiro, investing $70 million in the club.
Ronaldo made his international debut for Brazil on 23 March 1994 in a friendly match in Recife against Argentina. His first senior goal for Brazil came on 4 May 1994 in a 3–0 friendly win against Iceland. He went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States aged 17, but did not play as Brazil went on to win the tournament. He stated he was "overjoyed" at the experience. He was then known as Ronaldinho ("little Ronaldo" in Portuguese), because Ronaldo Rodrigues de Jesus, his older teammate, was also called Ronaldo and later nicknamed Ronaldão ("big Ronaldo") to further distinguish them. Another Brazilian player, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, now widely known as Ronaldinho, was called Ronaldinho Gaúcho when he joined the Brazilian senior team in 1999.
Career Honours 
Campeonato Paulista
2009
Corinthians | 
Brazilian Copa Do Brasil
2009
Corinthians | 
Spanish La Liga
2006-2007
Real Madrid | 
Spanish La Liga Trofeo Pichichi
2003-2004
Real Madrid | 
Spanish Supercopa de Espana
2003
Real Madrid |
Spanish La Liga
2002-2003
Real Madrid | 
FIFA Ballon d Or
2002
Real Madrid | 
UEFA Team of the Year
2002
Inter |
FIFA The Best
2002
Inter | 
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot
2002
Brazil | 
FIFA Club World Cup
2002
Real Madrid | 
FIFA World Cup
2002
Brazil |
Copa America
1999
Brazil | 
FIFA Golden Ball
1998
Brazil | 
Bravo Award
1998
Inter | 
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award
1997-1998
Barcelona |
English FA Cup
1997-1998
Inter |
FIFA Ballon d Or
1997
Inter |
FIFA The Best
1997
Barcelona |
Copa America
1997
Brazil |
FIFA Confederations Cup
1997
Brazil |
Bravo Award
1997
Barcelona | 
European Golden Shoe
1996-1997
Barcelona | 
Spanish Copa del Rey
1996-1997
Barcelona |
UEFA Cup Winners Cup
1996-1997
Barcelona |
Spanish La Liga Trofeo Pichichi
1996-1997
PSV Eindhoven |
Spanish Supercopa de Espana
1996
Brazil | 
Olympics Bronze
1996
Brazil U23 |
FIFA The Best
1996
PSV Eindhoven | 
Johan Cruijff Schaal
1996
PSV Eindhoven | 
Dutch KNVB Cup
1995-1996
PSV Eindhoven | 
Campeonato Mineiro
1994
Cruzeiro |
FIFA World Cup
1994
Brazil |
Brazilian Copa Do Brasil
1993
Cruzeiro |
Career Milestones
UEFA Champions League Hat-Trick
2003-04-23 | 
Serie A Footballer of the Year
1998-12-31 |
Former Youth Teams Former Senior Teams
1993-1994 |
1994-1996 |
1994-2011 |
1996-1997 |
1996 |
1997-2002 |
2002-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2009-2011 |
Former Club Staff Contracts
1992- |
1992- |
Fanart 
Banner
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2011 | 1 |
| Corinthians | Appearances | Copa Libertadores | 2011 | 2 |
| Corinthians | Mins Played | Copa Libertadores | 2011 | 180 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2011 | 14 |
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| Corinthians | Appearances | Copa Libertadores | 2010 | 7 |
| Corinthians | Appearances | Brazilian Serie A | 2010 | 11 |
| Corinthians | Assists | Brazilian Serie A | 2010 | 1 |
| Corinthians | Goals | Copa Libertadores | 2010 | 3 |
| Corinthians | Goals | Brazilian Serie A | 2010 | 6 |
| Corinthians | Mins Played | Copa Libertadores | 2010 | 575 |
| Corinthians | Mins Played | Brazilian Serie A | 2010 | 856 |
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| Corinthians | Appearances | Brazilian Serie A | 2009 | 20 |
| Corinthians | Assists | Brazilian Serie A | 2009 | 5 |
| Corinthians | Goals | Brazilian Serie A | 2009 | 12 |
| Corinthians | Mins Played | Brazilian Serie A | 2009 | 1,615 |
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| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 2007-2008 | 6 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 2007-2008 | 2 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 2007-2008 | 319 |
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| Real Madrid | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 2006-2007 | 7 |
| Milan | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 2006-2007 | 14 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 2006-2007 | 2 |
| Milan | Assists | Italian Serie A | 2006-2007 | 5 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 2006-2007 | 1 |
| Milan | Goals | Italian Serie A | 2006-2007 | 7 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Copa del Rey | 2006-2007 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 2006-2007 | 330 |
| Milan | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 2006-2007 | 1,060 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 2006-2007 | 180 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2006-2007 | 136 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2006 | 2 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2006 | 5 |
| Brazil | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 2006 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 2006 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2006 | 3 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2006 | 411 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2006 | 108 |
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| Real Madrid | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 2005-2006 | 23 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 2005-2006 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 2005-2006 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 2005-2006 | 14 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Copa del Rey | 2005-2006 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 2005-2006 | 180 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 2005-2006 | 1,742 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2005-2006 | 180 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2005 | 4 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2005 | 1 |
| Brazil | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 2005 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2005 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2005 | 76 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2005 | 315 |
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| Real Madrid | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 2004-2005 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 2004-2005 | 34 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 10 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 2004-2005 | 8 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 2004-2005 | 21 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 2004-2005 | 44 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 2004-2005 | 2,802 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2004-2005 | 807 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2004 | 7 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2004 | 4 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2004 | 6 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2004 | 612 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2004 | 315 |
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| Real Madrid | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 9 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 2003-2004 | 5 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 2003-2004 | 32 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Copa del Rey | 2003-2004 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 2003-2004 | 9 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Copa del Rey | 2003-2004 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 2003-2004 | 24 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 2003-2004 | 388 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 2003-2004 | 2,640 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2003-2004 | 735 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2003 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Supercopa de Espana | 2003 | 2 |
| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2003 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Supercopa de Espana | 2003 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2003 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Supercopa de Espana | 2003 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2003 | 270 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Supercopa de Espana | 2003 | 180 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2003 | 360 |
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| Real Madrid | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 2002-2003 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 11 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 2002-2003 | 31 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 2002-2003 | 5 |
| Real Madrid | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 2002-2003 | 23 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 6 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 2002-2003 | 90 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 2002-2003 | 2,420 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 2002-2003 | 762 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 7 |
| Real Madrid | Appearances | FIFA Club World Cup | 2002 | 1 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 2002 | 3 |
| Brazil | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 8 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 2002 | 2 |
| Real Madrid | Goals | FIFA Club World Cup | 2002 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 2002 | 553 |
| Real Madrid | Mins Played | FIFA Club World Cup | 2002 | 82 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 2002 | 180 |
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| Inter | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 2001-2002 | 5 |
| Inter | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 2001-2002 | 10 |
| Inter | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 2001-2002 | 1 |
| Inter | Assists | Italian Serie A | 2001-2002 | 3 |
| Inter | Goals | Italian Serie A | 2001-2002 | 7 |
| Inter | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 2001-2002 | 166 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 2001-2002 | 649 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 2001-2002 | 44 |
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| Inter | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1999-2000 | 1 |
| Inter | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1999-2000 | 7 |
| Inter | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1999-2000 | 3 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1999-2000 | 6 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1999-2000 | 383 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1999 | 6 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1999 | 4 |
| Brazil | Assists | International Friendlies | 1999 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | Copa America | 1999 | 5 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1999 | 2 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1999 | 347 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1999 | 525 |
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| Inter | Appearances | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 6 |
| Inter | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1998-1999 | 20 |
| Inter | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1998-1999 | 2 |
| Inter | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1998-1999 | 2 |
| Inter | Assists | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 2 |
| Inter | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1998-1999 | 14 |
| Inter | Goals | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 1 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1998-1999 | 124 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1998-1999 | 1,529 |
| Inter | Mins Played | UEFA Champions League | 1998-1999 | 422 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 7 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1998 | 3 |
| Brazil | Assists | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 3 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1998 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 4 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1998 | 270 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | FIFA World Cup | 1998 | 660 |
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| Inter | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1997-1998 | 11 |
| Inter | Appearances | Coppa Italia | 1997-1998 | 4 |
| Inter | Appearances | Italian Serie A | 1997-1998 | 32 |
| Inter | Assists | Italian Serie A | 1997-1998 | 3 |
| Inter | Assists | UEFA Cup | 1997-1998 | 2 |
| Inter | Goals | Italian Serie A | 1997-1998 | 25 |
| Inter | Goals | Coppa Italia | 1997-1998 | 3 |
| Inter | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1997-1998 | 6 |
| Inter | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1997-1998 | 983 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Coppa Italia | 1997-1998 | 287 |
| Inter | Mins Played | Italian Serie A | 1997-1998 | 2,872 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1997 | 5 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1997 | 6 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 5 |
| Brazil | Assists | Copa America | 1997 | 2 |
| Brazil | Assists | International Friendlies | 1997 | 1 |
| Brazil | Assists | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1997 | 3 |
| Brazil | Goals | Copa America | 1997 | 5 |
| Brazil | Goals | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 4 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1997 | 450 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1997 | 477 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Confederations Cup | 1997 | 405 |
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| Barcelona | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1996-1997 | 7 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 37 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | Copa del Rey | 1996-1997 | 4 |
| Barcelona | Assists | UEFA Cup | 1996-1997 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Assists | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 9 |
| Barcelona | Assists | Copa del Rey | 1996-1997 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Goals | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 34 |
| Barcelona | Goals | Copa del Rey | 1996-1997 | 6 |
| Barcelona | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1996-1997 | 5 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1996-1997 | 600 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Spanish La Liga | 1996-1997 | 3,196 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Copa del Rey | 1996-1997 | 360 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1996 | 4 |
| Barcelona | Appearances | Supercopa de Espana | 1996 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Assists | Supercopa de Espana | 1996 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Goals | Supercopa de Espana | 1996 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1996 | 5 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1996 | 354 |
| Barcelona | Mins Played | Supercopa de Espana | 1996 | 90 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 5 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1995-1996 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1995-1996 | 13 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1995-1996 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1995-1996 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 6 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1995-1996 | 12 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1995-1996 | 432 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1995-1996 | 131 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1995-1996 | 917 |
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| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1995 | 5 |
| Brazil | Appearances | Copa America | 1995 | 1 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1995 | 3 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | Copa America | 1995 | 5 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1995 | 392 |
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| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch Eredivisie | 1994-1995 | 33 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1994-1995 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Appearances | UEFA Cup | 1994-1995 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Assists | Dutch Eredivisie | 1994-1995 | 1 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1994-1995 | 2 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | Dutch Eredivisie | 1994-1995 | 30 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Goals | UEFA Cup | 1994-1995 | 3 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch Eredivisie | 1994-1995 | 2,921 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | UEFA Cup | 1994-1995 | 170 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Mins Played | Dutch KNVB Cup | 1994-1995 | 120 |
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| Cruzeiro | Appearances | Copa Libertadores | 1994 | 8 |
| Brazil | Appearances | International Friendlies | 1994 | 3 |
| Cruzeiro | Goals | Copa Libertadores | 1994 | 2 |
| Brazil | Goals | International Friendlies | 1994 | 1 |
| Brazil | Mins Played | International Friendlies | 1994 | 169 |
| Cruzeiro | Mins Played | Copa Libertadores | 1994 | 710 |
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