While Ronaldo arrived in Europe as a virtually unknown 17-year-old in 1994, he left as one of the world's best ever centre-forwards.
On the advice of his fellow Brazilian Romario, he swapped Cruzeiro for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, for whom he would score 54 goals in just two seasons.
Such statistics captured the attention of Spanish giants Barcelona. Forty-seven goals in 49 outings followed, but a dispute over a new contract meant that his stay at Camp Nou would last just one term before he moved to Italian giants Inter Milan.
He scored 34 goals during his debut season with the Nerazzurri, but that was when his injury problems started to take hold.
Two serious knee injuries restricted his appearances during the next three campaigns, but that did not stop Real Madrid from paying out a reported £38m for 'The Phenomenon'.
Initially the switch to the Bernabeu worked out well, with Ronaldo scoring 85 goals during his first three campaigns with the club.
The injuries returned, though, and coupled with his constant weight battles, he fell out of favour with manager Fabio Capello, who often preferred Ruud van Nistelrooy to lead his attack.
It meant that in January 2007, he switched to AC Milan for a mere £5m, meaning that he became one of only a few footballers to have played for both Milan clubs. He even went on to score against his former employers Inter.
Nevertheless, the injury and weight issues would not subside, and so his brace of goals on this day against Napoli in a 5-2 victory in 2008 would be his last in European football.
His first of the match was adjudged to have crossed the line after the ball had looped up off the visiting goalkeeper, while his second goal saw him head in Clarence Seedorf's cross.
He suffered yet another knee problem a month later, which ended his season, before Milan released him during the summer. As a result, Ronaldo took that opportunity to return to his homeland with Corinthians, having scored 273 goals in European football.
