Ronaldo to split from wife as Brazil held

BRAZIL star Ronaldo is splitting from his wife and has complained that footballers were portrayed in his homeland as ignorant.

The Real Madrid ace told Brazilian TV a lot of nonsense had been written about the 1998 World Cup final against France, when he played only hours after being taken ill.

Ronaldo, who confirmed that he is separating from his wife Milene Domingues after less than four years of marriage, said he had always tried to keep his private life out of the public glare.

“I don’t want to expose my privacy to anyone,” he said. “I’m famous because I’m a footballer, not because I married Milene.”

He also criticised the way footballers were portrayed in Brazil. “Here, the image is that footballers are stupid, that they can’t even speak properly. Footballers are seen as players who earn lots of money and don’t know what to do with it other than buy cars. Abroad, you are respected as if you were a film star,” he said

He was also unhappy with stories which appeared after the 1998 World Cup final, when he played despite reportedly suffering a convulsive fit hours before kick-off.

“They talked a lot of nonsense ... like that I had an agreement with the French government,” he said.

“Then they said I chickened out but it was exactly the opposite. It was an act of courage to play,” he said.

Ronaldo was speaking after unfancied Peru put behind them their mounting financial problems to battle back for a 1-1 draw against Brazil in their 2006 World Cup qualifier in front of 80,000 passionate fans on Sunday night.

Newcastle’s Nolberto Solano headed a spectacular second half equaliser after Rivaldo had given Brazil the lead with a first half penalty.

The result meant Brazil lost their 100% record in the South American qualifying group and are now in second spot behind Argentina on goal difference.

Brazil were missing Ronaldinho while Ronaldo lacked service in the first half but the absence of the injured Roberto Carlos meant they lacked composure at the back which Peru took advantage of for large parts of the match.

Peru went into the game on the back of a strike by home-based players who had protested over non-payments. It was Brazil who opened the scoring when Rivaldo, out of favour at AC Milan and desperately trying to impress prospective new clubs, converted a 20th minute penalty.

But in the 58th minute, Peru were level when a left-wing cross from Guillermo Salas was met by the unmarked Solano whose flying header found the top corner of Dida’s goal.

The goal was greeted by a mini-invasion of press photographers who had to be cleared from the pitch by police and soldiers as the locals sensed the chance of a first win over their South American rivals on home soil in 50 years.