Ronaldo's stats pre-injury....

Professional club career started in 1993 (Cruzerio).

1993 in Cruzerio 1st season: 20 goals in 21 games - Age: 16 years old
1994 in Cruzerio 2nd season: 24 goals in 26 games - Age: 17 years old
1994-95 in PSV 1st season: 35 goals in 36 games - Age: 18 years old
1995-96 in PSV 2nd season: 19 goals in 21 games - Age: 19 years old (lost the Balon Dor by mere 1 point to Euro winner Mathias Sammer (Germany))
1996-97 in Barcelona 1st season: 47 goals in 49 games - Age: 20 years old - voted FIFA worlds best player + Balon Dor winner
1997-98 in Inter Milan 1st season: 34 goals in 47 games - Age: 21 years old - voted FIFA worlds best player
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At age 21, Ronaldo had a total of: 179 goals in 200 games - in his club career. again note only he was 21 YEARS OLD by this time.

For Brazil national team during the same period:
1994: 1 goal in 4 games - Age: 17 (debut)
1995: 3 goals in 6 games - Age: 18
1996: 5 goals in 4 games - Age: 19
1997: 15 goals in 20 games - Age: 20
1998: 5 goals 10 games (including 4 in the World Cup 1998) - Age 21

Club + National team total goals: 208 goals in 244 games - Age 21

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then came injuries, and it was untill in 2002 ronaldo made his comeback, but even after scoring many goals in the 2002 world cup and beyond, ronaldo was never the same player again....

Let's be honest, this is a player whose career was ruined by injuries. I don't think he would have done a Ronaldinho and get tired of glory, coz even after his injuries he had decent stats for Real Madrid, Inter, and even in Milan and Corrinthians when he was way over his thirties. Besides, the only reason he got fat (Madrid days) was because he was out of the game/injuried on a constant basis. I think he could've have performed on a constant ''Barca'' level until he reached his thirties. Who knows he may not actually have gone on to score 1000 goals, but maybe somewhere close to that. Besides, let's not forget (NO DISRESPECT) more than half of Pele's 1000+ goals were scored in the Brazilian league. I don't know how the Brazilian league compared to the level in Europe in the same period, but I think we can all agree that the 1990-2000 La Liga and Serie A was pretty though leagues to score in, as most, if not all, the world's best players played in these two leagues during that period.

If look at stats like that for a mere 21 year old player, no other player, besides Pele himself, have similar stats at that age. Not even Maradona.

Anyway, the question(s) I would like to debate with you guys is/are;

what if he was NEVER injuried?

Would you rule him out doing something similar to Pele's 1000+ career goals if he went whole his career WITHOUT ANY INJURIES?

Pele didnt actually score 1000 goals... he counts friendlies with old men and charity matches.

Pele probably counts goals he scored against his kids playing in the backyard

RobbyV wrote:Pele didnt actually score 1000 goals... he counts friendlies with old men and charity matches.

And the goals he scored on the set of Road to Victory...... Micheal Caine and Sly Stallone will verify iam sure.

haha, Pele scored around 600+ official goals, football historians went through the books and made an account of it.

Pele just keeps selling his 1000 goals propaganda because to his eyes, it's the one thing that set him apart from other legend, when it is in no way relevant to the goat discussion. he is very insecure actually, other footballers have matched his greatness overtime, like Cruyff or Maradona.

there is no point talking about the what ifs tho, he could have flopped like Ronnie and developed a fatter belly.

That thread that turned into R9 vs. Messi has gotten pretty ridiculous. Not much point to it anymore. Every point has been said over and over again. But hopefully this one will be fine. Put simple if he had never been injured the discussion of where he is the best of all time or not would never happen.

aford92 wrote:That thread that turned into R9 vs. Messi has gotten pretty ridiculous. Not much point to it anymore. Every point has been said over and over again. But hopefully this one will be fine. Put simple if he had never been injured the discussion of where he is the best of all time or not would never happen.

But he did get injured, end of story. You can't look into some alternate future where he didnt get injured. Don't worry, Neymar will carry on his legacy

jibers wrote:

aford92 wrote:That thread that turned into R9 vs. Messi has gotten pretty ridiculous. Not much point to it anymore. Every point has been said over and over again. But hopefully this one will be fine. Put simple if he had never been injured the discussion of where he is the best of all time or not would never happen.

But he did get injured, end of story. You can't look into some alternate future where he didnt get injured.

I know, calm down. But it's nice to think how good he could've been. Even though he was good enough already.

Ronaldo pre injury was on track to be the best in the world bar none, he still went a long way to stake a claim despite his injuries.

1993 in Cruzerio 1st season: 20 goals in 21 games - Age: 16 years old
1994 in Cruzerio 2nd season: 24 goals in 26 games - Age: 17 years old
1994-95 in PSV 1st season: 35 goals in 36 games - Age: 18 years old
'

thats ridiculous

do not understand how people always forget that he got fat because of thyroid disorder
its a major illness,you get fatigued we quickly
poor guy,could have achieved so much more without those injuries and illnesses,
and what makes him more great is the fact that he played at a time when there were some great defenders in the game like thuram maldini nesta cannavaro puyol ayala heirro ,unlike today when seeing a decent nesta performance is making every1 wet their pants and making messi cry
but atleast this forum has so many posters appreciating the greatness of the man

Great player who I never got to watch

Those stats are ridiculous.

Btw who has more official goals, Romario or Pele?

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

RobbyV wrote:Pele didnt actually score 1000 goals... he counts friendlies with old men and charity matches.

And the goals he scored on the set of Road to Victory...... Micheal Caine and Sly Stallone will verify iam sure.

great film

CBarca wrote:Great player who I never got to watch

Those stats are ridiculous.

Btw who has more official goals, Romario or Pele?

pretty sure it's Romario

Romario + Rivaldo was amazing

Ronaldo could have easily been the greatest player of all time for not the injuries and thyroid problem