Phenomenon: The Incredible Career of Brazil’s Ronaldo

by Daniel Williamson

Phenomenon is the rip-roaring story of Brazilian legend Ronaldo, examining the incredible career and life of the greatest number nine in football history. ‘The Phenomenon’ – as he was dubbed by the Italian media as he tore apart the toughest league in the world in the late ’90s – was the heir apparent to Pelé. His incredible career had it from a meteoric rise and jubilant highs to the crushing lows of debilitating injuries, and everything imaginable in between. Never without his trademark infectious grin, the breathtakingly brilliant Rio native combined pace and strength that frightened the best defenders in the world, with balletic agility, poise and composure that contradicted his powerful frame. Phenomenon explores Ronaldo’s roller-coaster ride, from local youth football to the biggest clubs in the world. From the mysterious heartbreak of the 1998 World Cup Final in Paris, to triumphant redemption in the Far East four years later. It’s a story that would make Hollywood scriptwriters blush.

240 pages, Hardcover

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Horror writer and comic book artist, Daniel Williamson explores the ultimate existential mystery in his novel: Psychic Odyssey - a journey to the Upper and Lower Necrospheres. The first book in THE WORLDS OF THE DEAD series.

THE WORLDS OF THE DEAD is a metaphysical misadventure that combines Lovecraftian horror with the world-building of epic fantasy. It is an inventive tale of existential exploration, providing fantastical answers to some of life's
biggest questions.

Philosophical questions such as:

What happens to us after we die?

Is there life after death?

Is there a world after this one?

THE WORLDS OF THE DEAD is an epic horror adventure that will take you right to the very end, to the last frontier world.

Daniel and his wife, artist Kate Williamson live in the misty 'Maungatua' mountains, in a small mountain village nestled on the hillside, located in the nature reserve of Waipori Falls, New Zealand, overlooking a spectacular tiered waterfall called Crystal Falls.

Reviews

[Dewi Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pretty comprehensive account of Ronaldo’s achievements, but I don’t feel like I learned anything new about his career. There’s not a lot of new ground broken or fresh insight into the player or the person. Some sections feel like straightforward season by season summaries, and then the exploration of some interesting (and inconvenient) themes, especially off-the-pitch, is very gentle. Maybe the book achieved its aim, but it feels like a missed opportunity.