Ronaldo sets date for his retirement from playing

FORMER Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Ronaldo has announced he will retire from football at the end of next year. The 33-year-old Brazilian, who won the golden boot at the 2002 World Cup, has signed a new two-year deal at Corinthians which expires on 31 December 2011, after which he will hang up his boots at the end of an illustrious career.

He said: "I have extended my contract for another two years and that will be the last of my career. I want to give my all, have fun and finish with some major achievements."

Ronaldo, a three-time Fifa World Player of the Year, has suffered from major knee problems in his career while his return to Brazilian football with Corinthians has been blighted by a thigh injury.

Despite that, he has great affection for the Sao Paulo outfit and is set to become a club ambassador when he retires. "The crowd that follow us is very passionate," he added. "I am increasingly fond of this club. It has been a wonderful chapter of my life here in Sao Paulo."

Ronaldo has won 97 caps for Brazil but he has not ruled out reaching three figures at this summer's World Cup, even though he has not yet received a call-up under former team-mate Dunga.

"About the World Cup, we'll see," he said. "I still have a chance of going. But for 2014 (when Brazil host the tournament], it is impossible. It is a long way off and time is moving on."