Ronaldão (footballer)

{{short description|Brazilian footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name =Ronaldão

|fullname=Ronaldo Rodrigues de Jesus

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1965|6|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = São Paulo, Brazil

|height={{height|m=1.87}}

|position=Defender

|youthclubs1 = Rio Preto

|years1=1986–1993

|clubs1=São Paulo

|caps1=85

|goals1=4

|years2=1994–1995

|clubs2=Shimizu S-Pulse

|caps2=46

|goals2=3

|years3=1995–1996

|clubs3=Flamengo

|caps3=44

|goals3=1

|years4=1997

|clubs4=Santos

|caps4=38

|goals4=2

|years5=1998

|clubs5=Coritiba

|caps5=0

|goals5=0

|years6=1998–2002

|clubs6=Ponte Preta

|caps6=88

|goals6=0

|totalcaps = 301 |totalgoals = 10

|nationalyears1=1991–1995

|nationalteam1=Brazil

|nationalcaps1=14

|nationalgoals1=1

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|Brazil}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}}

{{Medal|W|1994|}}

{{MedalCompetition|Copa América}}

{{Medal|RU|1995 Uruguay|}}

}}

Ronaldo Rodrigues de Jesus (born 19 June 1965 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a former Brazilian footballer, initially known on the football pitch as Ronaldo and then as Ronaldão (big Ronaldo) to differentiate him from his younger compatriot and teammate, also dubbed Ronaldo, who was nicknamed Ronaldinho (little Ronaldo) before this was adopted by Ronaldinho Gaúcho.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/14/the-knowledge-most-games-played|title=Which team has played the most times in a month?|work=The Guardian|author1=Rob Bagchi|author2=Rob Smyth|date=14 March 2012|access-date=25 November 2016}}

A former defender, Ronaldão played 14 matches in the Seleção (Brazil national football team) between 1991 and 1995, winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup, although he did not play in any matches in the tournament. He was called up to the World Cup on its opening day, traveling from Japan to the United States as a substitute for injured Ricardo Gomes.{{cite web|url=https://trivela.com.br/os-25-anos-da-copa-de-94-klinsmann-fez-aquilo-que-diana-ross-nao-conseguiu-na-abertura-do-mundial/|title=[Os 25 anos da Copa de 94] Klinsmann fez aquilo que Diana Ross não conseguiu na abertura do Mundial|work=Trivela|author=Leandro Stein|date=17 June 2019|access-date=20 June 2019}}

He was also successful at club level, winning numerous trophies.[http://www.sambafoot.com/en/players/411_Ronaldao.html SambaFoot biography] (Accessed 11 June 2006)