Brazil legend Ronaldo - one of the most iconic players to have ever played the beautiful game - brought the curtain down on his glittering career on Monday.
The three-times World Player of the Year - dubbed 'The Phenomenon' when he burst on the scene in spectacular fashion in the mid 90s - currently plays for Corinthians. He was expected to hang up his boots at the end of 2011, but it appears the club's shock early elimination from the Libertadores Cup and his continuing injury problems have led him to call time on his career prematurely.
The news marks the end of a career for a player fans the world over have come to love, respect and revere ever since he exploded onto the scene in 1994.
Since then, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, to give him his full title, has provided us with some of the most memorable moments of the past two decades with his explosive pace and power combined with his devastating dribbling and deadly finishing making him the most feared No.9 of all-time.
Cast your mind back to that goal for Barcelona against Compostela where he ran from the halfway line leaving six in his path of destruction before finishing with aplomb.
It left the late Sir Bobby Robson with a look of sheer disbelief and wonderment etched on his face and to later remark that it was "the best goal" he had ever witnessed. And who could argue.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans will especially remember his 'perfect' hat-trick for Real Madrid at Old Trafford during a Champions League encounter where the Brazilian hitman was rightly given a standing ovation as he departed the field in the second half.
And then of course there was his superlative return to form at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea where his eight goals helped Brazil lift the much coveted trophy for a record fifth time and aslo ensured him the spot as the all-time leading goalscorer in the competition with 15.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 18 September 1976, Ronaldo began his professional career with Cruzeiro, before moving to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 1994.
A staggering 54 goals in 57 appearances for the Dutch giants later he moved to Barcelona in 1996 and then Inter Milan 12 months later for a then world record fee of £18million after maintaining his stunning goalscoring form with 47 in just 49 games in Catalunya.
He went on to spend five seasons with the Nerazzurri - of which were largely blighted by two serious knee injuries - before joining the Galacticos of Real Madrid in 2002.
And despite looking a shadow of his former self - the one that transcended how a No.9 should operate - he adapted his game superbly while still remaining the best finisher in the business.
Indeed, 104 goals in 175 games during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu when he was far from the beast that terrorised defences during his earlier, more leaner days, merely reinforces the notion that he truly was a 'phenomenon'.
Perhaps, current Real boss Jose Mourinho the greatest compliment paid to him when he remarked that he was "a better player than Maradona". And to be honest we don't disagree.
