Soccer: Ronaldo thanks doctor who saved his career

In an emotional reunion hours before today's World Cup soccer final, Brazil striker Ronaldo thanked the French doctor who saved his career.

"My biggest victory is that I can play again," Ronaldo told Paris-based orthopaedic specialist Gerard Saillant who is in Yokohama as the striker's special guest.

"I had hoped to invite you to see Brazil versus France in the final but...," a grinning Ronaldo added. The two embraced and Gaillant playfully rubbed the 25-year-old's new hairstyle.

Saillant performed two operations on the striker's ruptured right knee. The second operation, in April 2000, was necessary after Ronaldo reinjured the knee in his first competitive game back after the original operation the previous year.

Hours before the last World Cup final in 1998, Ronaldo suffered a fit but was allowed to play against France. He performed below his best as Brazil lost 3-0.

The slow pace of his recovery since the operations - further complicated by recurring muscular injuries this season - raised fears he might never recover fully his pre-1998 form.

But the man twice voted World Player of the Year has scored six goals at these finals, despite suffering muscular problems.

"It gives hope to every one who is injured or hurt, even those who aren't sportsmen to see that by fighting you can make it and he's back to where he was - it's fantastic," Saillant told Reuters Television.

"It's hugely satisfying. I am very moved."

Ronaldo told Saillant that he was ready to take him up on a long-promised game of golf although his skills on the football pitch do not seem to carry over to the fairway.

"I'm an 18 handicap," Ronaldo told Saillant.

"But I'm playing a lot more now - I'm going to get better."

Ronaldo also said his father had told him that when the World Cup final was finished he had to fulfill a promise to take a swim in the River Seine in Paris.

- REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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