AC MILAN striker Ronaldo has admitted for the first time that his career may be over.

The 31-year-old ruptured tendons in his left knee against Livorno and knows he must face up to the fact he may never play competitive football again.

'I have to be prepared for the possibility of retiring,' Ronaldo told Brazilian television programme Fantastico.

'I know it won't be easy.

'It will be a very tough recovery and something might happen during the recovery period which means I cannot play again.

'But I will leave that possibility aside until the end of the rehabilitation.

'If then my knee still hurts every day, even after it has mended, maybe it would be time to say goodbye to football.

'I have to make a good recovery so I can ride a bike with my son and run with him without pain.'

The World Cup winner suffered a similar injury in his other knee in 1999 and was out for more than a year.

'As soon as I did the injury, I wondered why it was happening to me again, what had I done to deserve it,' he added.

Brazilian giants Flamengo have expressed their desire to sign the three-time former World Footballer of the Year as soon as he comes back from the injury.

And Ronaldo himself has declared in the past that he would like to end his career in his hometown.

But the striker is reluctant to discuss the possibility because of the uncertainty currently shrouding his future.

'It is not the best moment to talk about Flamengo or Milan or any other club,' he said.

'Logically, no club wants a 31-year-old player who has had two operations, suffered terrible injuries to his knees and is doubtful to play again.

'However, at the same time, I don't need any charity by any club.

THANK GOD

'I just thank God for my history in football.'

Indeed, the record scorer in World Cup history has bagged nearly 300 professional goals in a career that has taken him on a tour of some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Ronaldo says that he is not even thinking of playing again. Instead, he's focusing on his recovery.

'My heart tells me to play again but my body is sending me signs of fatigue and suffering,' he admitted.

'It has been a real knock-out blow, both physically and mentally.

'I must not think about playing again.

'I must focus for the moment on undergoing the best physio possible. This will be very tough.

'If I'm okay at the end of that, then of course I'll play again.

'If there's another ending, it will be a difficult and sad decision.

'I know exactly the bridges I have to cross. I have experience of recuperating from injury.'

According to Professor Yves Catonne, head of orthopaedic and sports surgery at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital where Ronaldo underwent his operation, the Brazilian star will likely have to wait five to six months before jogging and eight months before touching a ball again.

The surgeon who carried out the operation, Professor Eric Rolland, spelt out in detail what lies ahead for Ronaldo on the long road to full fitness.

'He's going to have to keep the protection on his right leg in place and walk with crutches for at least a month-and-a-half to ensure the scar tissue is solid.

'He'll be able to put his foot on the ground, but he'll have to be careful not to make a sudden movement.

'After that we can look at fitting something more flexible if his knee allows it.

'In terms of being able to run, he won't be able to do that for four-and-a-half to five months.

'And he'll have to wait six months before working on building up his muscular strength.

'Full training is nine months away.'

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