Tough week for the Brazilian sport. Two of the greatest athletes that ever were born in my country had sad weeks. Gustavo Kuerten and Ronaldo faced both pain and tears.

The first one was Gustavo Kuerten. The three time Roland Garros champion and former top 1 in the world started his farewell tour. He announced earlier this is his final season although he is only 31 years old. Guga suffered two major surgeries during his career after his back problems.

The first tournament in his last tour was the Brazilian Open, in Bahia. He won that title twice during his best years. After that, he will play some of the masters and grand slams he won it and he has special affect for, like Miami, Hamburg, Montecarlo and  Roland Garros.

On Tuesday, he lost in the first round for Carlos Belorcq, an Argentinean top 100 in ATP. The first set he tried hard, losing by 7-5. During the break, he needed medical help and came back with no mobility at all, ending the game at 6-1.

He gave a very emotional speech after the game. Said going away from his passion is harder than winning Roland Garros three times. He cried a lot and apologized for not been able to play in high level again.

Then Wednesday comes. Ronaldo is on the bench at AC Milan’s game for Serie A. He cames in the second half, stays less than two minutes on the field and suffers a major serious damage in his right knee. The same contusion he had in 2000 (in the left knee at that time).

Ronaldo left the field crying a lot. The pain was the same, he said. At 31 years old also, he is risked to have to stop his career. But there is an old say in Brazil that is never doubt about Ronaldo. He will be probably out the rest of this year. And he still thinks of coming back, as his dad and personal doctor said after the surgery in Paris.

Whatever it happens. If they quit or not the game. Guga and Ronaldo, both born in 1976, are major idols and a pride for Brazilians. Their effort and they fight against pain and physical problems will be remembered forever.

Domingo tem o clássico no Camp Nou. O Marca relembra algumas de suas capas famosas no especial que sempe faz dos jogos. Reproduzo aqui duas, envolvendo personagens brasileiros, um para cada lado. Os dois jogos foram no Camp Nou.

Jogo 1

Em 94, o Barcelona de Romário meteu 5 no Real Madrid. Na época, o Barça era uma das grandes potências da Europa (chamado de Dream Team). Romário fez 3 gols, sendo o primeiro histórico grudando a bola no pé, além de dar um passe genial para o quinto gol. Veja

Jogo 2

O segundo jogo é uma rara (nos últimos anos) vitória do Real Madrid em pleno Camp Nou. Rara na época também, já que fazia 20 anos que o Real não batia o rival fora de casa. Roberto Carlos e Ronaldo foram os nomes do jogo. Era o começo do fim da era dos Galácticos. Mas o time efetivamente ainda jogava por música, com Zidane, Figo e Ronaldo em grande fase na primeira temporada de Ronaldinho Gaúcho (que não jogou) na equipe e ainda sem Deco como escudeiro. 1 x 2 para o Real.

Ps.: Só encontrei o vídeo do segundo gol do jogo mais recente. Se acharem um vídeo melhor desta partida, me enviem nos comentários e eu troco.

Na falta de um futebol melhorzinho (infelizmente, Ronaldo não emendou depois daquelas primeiras atuações), digno de nota mesmo é o Fenômeno cultivando uma cabeleira no Milan. Será que é influência das madeixas de Nesta, Maldini, Pirlo e cia?