Brazilian Football Legend Ronaldo Nazario Meets Indian Sports Minister Raksha Khadse

NEW DELHI — Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario met India’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, during his visit to India, where the two-time FIFA World Cup winner also tried his hand at golf.

Khadse shared photographs of her meeting with the former Brazilian striker on social media, describing the interaction as memorable and highlighting his influence on aspiring young athletes.

“A memorable interaction with Ronaldo Nazário, the legendary Brazilian striker known as R9 & O Fenômeno (The Phenomenon),” Khadse wrote.

“A two-time FIFA World Cup winner and one of football’s all-time greats, his extraordinary journey continues to inspire generations. Interactions like these reinforce the importance of building a strong sporting ecosystem that empowers young Indian talent to dream big and compete at the highest level,” she added.

Photographs from the meeting showed Ronaldo presenting Khadse with a Brazilian national team jersey bearing his famous No. 9.

The former striker, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, is visiting India and recently attended the India Championship golf tournament in New Delhi.

During his appearance at Delhi Golf Club, Ronaldo exchanged his football boots for a golf club and attempted several shots, entertaining spectators with his efforts.

Despite his legendary achievements on the football field, the Brazilian admitted that golf presented a different kind of challenge.

“Oh, it’s amazing. It’s beautiful,” Ronaldo said when asked about his experience on the course. “It’s just not for me. Too difficult for me.”

He also commented on the challenging playing conditions, particularly the thick rough surrounding the fairways.

“The rough is amazing. So big. I used to be in the rough a lot, but this one is so high. Yeah, it’s difficult,” he said.

Ronaldo said he was reasonably satisfied with some of his shots, although several went off target.

“I feel good with the hits. But yeah, went a little bit off right,” he said, adding that he had discussed the course with another player who suggested that competitors might rely heavily on irons during the tournament.

Asked whether he preferred football or golf, Ronaldo had little hesitation in choosing the sport that made him a global superstar.

“I go for football (I have played it) my whole life. But, you know, comparing football to golf is almost the same level of difficulty,” he said.

He acknowledged that professional golfers spend years mastering their sport, just as he dedicated his career to football.

“You know, those guys, professional level, they are doing this for their whole life. As I did for my whole life playing football. So, yeah, for me, it’s much easier to play football than golf,” Ronaldo added.

Ronaldo played a central role in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph and was also part of the country’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad. His career included successful spells with major European clubs, including Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

His visit to India and meeting with Khadse highlighted the international appeal of football and the growing interaction between global sporting figures and India’s sports community. (Source: IANS)