Legendary Brazilian footballer Ronaldo is reportedly in intensive care in an Ibiza hospital after coming down with a bout of pneumonia. The 41-year-old is said to have been diagnosed with the illness after being rushed to Can Misses Hospital on the island on Friday evening. Diario de Ibiza reports he had asked for a transfer to a private hospital Clinica Nuestra Senora del Rosario just before midnight the same day. It quoted hospital sources as saying he was still in intensive care but he was making good progress.
Ronaldo, regarded as one of the world’s best-ever players, owns a house in Ibiza and is a regular visitor to the island. He is believed to have arrived in Ibiza for a summer break a few days ago.
Ronaldo went down with dengue fever in January 2012 and posted a picture of himself on Twitter hooked up to a drip in hospital alongside the message: ‘Good morning to all those who began the New Year with dengue.’ He retired from football in 2011 after a glittering career with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. In his later years he battled with overweight because of a thyroid problem.