Reuters

Injured Ronaldo facing retirement

Updated 09.45 Sat Feb 23 2008

Keywords: Ronaldo

Brazilian superstar Ronaldo is considering retiring from football following a horrific knee injury.

The AC Milan striker said he would have to make a tough decision about his playing career after having surgery that will keep him off the pitch for at least nine months.

"I have the will to carry on playing, this is what my heart is telling me to do. But my body is giving me signs that it is tiring and needs rest"

The 31-year-old ace, whose 15 goals in the World Cup finals make him the competition's all-time top scorer, ruptured his left knee tendon playing for Milan against Livorno last week.

He said: "I haven't decided yet what I should do but I'm ready for anything.

"I have the will to carry on playing. This is what my heart is telling me to do but my body is giving me signs that it is tiring and needs rest.

"I know that physically and mentally it will be very hard. If at the end of the day, I have recovered and can play again, fine. If not, it will be a very hard decision to make but it will have to be the decision."

Eric Rolland, the surgeon who operated on Ronaldo, said the striker will not be able to run for up to five months and will not be able to train before nine months.

But the doctor added: "Anything can happen in the next three months because surgery is not an exact science.

"The recovery will not depend on Ronaldo for the first six months. It will all depend on him afterwards. Psychologically, he is a remarkable man."

Ronaldo seriously injured his right knee twice while playing for Inter Milan but recovered to help Brazil win the 2002 World Cup final.