The original Ronaldo — the 'alien' who scored 15 World Cup goals

Before Cristiano Ronaldo, there was Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima — known simply as Ronaldo, or "O Fenômeno" (The Phenomenon). Brazilian, explosive, and so good that teammates called him "The Alien" because no human should be able to do what he did with a football.

Ronaldo scored 15 World Cup goals across four tournaments (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006). His crowning moment came in 2002, when he scored both goals in the final against Germany to win Brazil their fifth World Cup title — a personal redemption after a mysterious health episode before the 1998 final, where Brazil lost to France.

What made Ronaldo special wasn't just his speed or finishing — it was his ability to do things at full sprint that other players couldn't do standing still. His stepover at pace was virtually undefendable, and his composure in front of goal was ice-cold. Only Miroslav Klose (16) and Lionel Messi (19 and counting at the 2026 World Cup) have surpassed his World Cup tally.