Three-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldo was dropped from the Brazilian national team for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup, the Brazilian soccer confederation announced on Monday.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira met with Ronaldo on Monday and released the player for Brazil's qualifiers against Paraguay on Sunday and Argentina on June 8, as well as the Confederations Cup in Germany on June 15-29.
"Ronaldo claimed personal problems that prevent him from dedicating himself to the Brazilian team at the moment," Parreira was quoted on the confederation's Web site.
Parreira summoned Sao Paulo striker Grafite to face Paraguay and Argentina. He said Julio Cesar, of Spain's Sevilla, will replace Ronaldo at the Confederations Cup.
Ronaldo asked to be released from the squad for the Confederations Cup, claiming he needed time to rest and recover from the Spanish season, especially heading into next season and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
But Brazilians had expected he would play in the Cup qualifiers, when Brazil hopes to clinch its place in the 32-team finals field.
Ronaldo also expected to play in the qualifiers.
"I was prepared to play both games," he told the Globo TV Network. "I was ready and motivated, but the Brazilian soccer confederation has decided and I have to respect that decision."
"Now I just want to rest, get away from it all and get ready for next year which is World Cup year" Ronaldo added.
Last week, Parreira had warned that he wouldn't accept fatigue as an excuse for not playing in the eight-team Confederations Cup. Winning the World Cup requires sacrifice, he said, and players who refuse to play could be replaced.
In recent days, Ronaldo had said he wanted to skip the Confederations Cup since this would be his last chance for an extended holiday prior to the 2006 World Cup.
Earlier this month, he ended his engagement to Brazilian television personality Daniela Cicarelli, three months after a lavish and highly publicized party at a French castle outside Paris to celebrate the impending union.
"We're human, we understand. Ronaldo is coming off a series of personal situations," Parreira said last week.
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