Ex-Brazil striker Ronaldo set for playing return

Three-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldo is set to return to playing at the age of 38. Picture: AP

The 38-year-old World-Cup winner took part-ownership in the North American Soccer League side last month and is reportedly now aiming to get fit enough to make a comeback.

The Strikers will formally introduce Ronaldo in a press conference on Thursday at 8pm when he is expected to clarify his playing ambitions.

The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan forward won two World Cups in 1994 and 2002, scoring eight times in the latter to claim the Golden Boot Award.

He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN

• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning

• You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google +

Ronaldo is not the first high-profile player to join the Strikers, with Gordon Banks, Gerd Muller and George Best also taking roles with the club in the past.

“I will be very involved with the management of the team and have already started to make introductions that will certainly help us to turn the Strikers into a global powerhouse,” Ronaldo told the Strikers website in December.

“There are no doubts that the beautiful game is growing exponentially in the US, and I guarantee you that the NASL will play a key role in the rise of professional soccer here.”

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS

• Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android and Kindle apps

• Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use