AS Ronaldo waddled off into the sunset for the final time, many wondered what had taken him so long. But the Brazilian arguably achieved more than Zinedine Zidane or his namesake may ever do.

Zidane was a magnificent talent. When people describe his career they do so in glowing terms, even if there’s always a butt at the end of it.

Yet for all his greatness, Zidane does not have the sort of record that Ronaldo holds.

Similarly, the Cristiano version may be absurdly gifted, but he is yet to even come close.

With the Brazilian Ronaldo, it is different. The all-time record for the most goals scored at the World Cup is a special feat.

And if most credit Diego Maradona with winning the World Cup single-handedly for Argentina in 1986, then Ronaldo was not far off doing the same when Brazil claimed the trophy in 2002.

Eight goals in a single tournament is an achievement without comparison in the modern era.

In his prime, Ronaldo was an exciting, dribbling goal machine. If he played, you watched.

I saw him play live just once, in a friendly against Jamaica at Leicester’s Walkers Stadium.

He was serially thwarted by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts - formerly of Bradford City, for Pete’s sake - and yet I was still mesmerised.

Ronaldo was one of those special players that come along so rarely, and it is his talent rather than his decline that should be remembered following his retirement this week.

Football is already missing him.