Ronaldo Attributes World Cup Goal to 'Playing a Lot of Futsal'
RIO DE JANEIRO
(1-12-03) - FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo attributed a goal scored during
the 2002 World Cup to skills developed playing Futsal.
The Brazilian star was asked specifically about a goal against Turkey, which the
interviewer described as a "stunner".
It was the play in which Ronaldo toe-punched his shot successfully past several Turkish defenders when there was seemingly no opening.
(Photo: Ronaldo scores after a brilliant solo run against Turkey. Courtesy, FIFA.)
"It was a difficult move because my way was blocked,"
Ronaldo told fifa.com.
"Nobody expected me to do it. It’s a difficult technique to shoot the ball with
the point of the toe and you don’t see many players try it.
"But it was just instinctive, and I owe it to playing a lot of futsal when I was
younger."
This isn't the first time that Ronaldo has paid tribute to Futsal. He said during an
interview at the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. that Futsal was his "first love". In
fact, all of the Brazilian greats, from Pele to Ronaldo to Zico, grew up playing the
sport.
See the complete story at http://fifa.com/Service/MR_A/50007_E.html