Swollen heart and mother's 'warning' didn't scare brave Ronaldo Angelim

Eduardo Peixoto - GloboEsporte.com

Ronaldo Angelim carries the ball during Flamengo's training session. His heart is in the service of Flamengo.

To convince her son to work on the farm and abandon his dream of becoming a soccer player, Mrs. Francisca Simões warned Ronaldo Angelim that he had heart problems. He didn't believe her and moved on. On October 31, 2007, during a Flamengo vs. Corinthians game, palpitations followed by discomfort forced him off the field and away from soccer for 12 days. An echocardiogram revealed a small change in the size of his heart. Angelim didn't panic, nor did he remember his mother's "prophecy." "I know it was stress, and I had also eaten too much at dinner. My mental health greatly affects these things. When I think I'm going to get sick, I always do. The exam showed that my heart was a little bigger, so I rested completely for 12 days and returned to playing normally," the defender declared.

The scare is behind him and leaves no lasting scars. Last Wednesday, without much fanfare, he turned 33. In fact, this was his first birthday. His next is this Saturday.

- I was actually born on November 26th. But I was only registered on the 29th. That's why I only celebrate on that date - he explains. \ Since 2006 at Gávea, Ronaldo Angelim celebrates for the first time being nominated among the three best center-backs in the Brasileirão - Rever and Miranda are the others. Modestly, he thinks the award has a lot to do with Flamengo's strength. \

"I'm at the right club. At Fortaleza, to be nominated you have to be a hero. In 2005, I finished fourth. I think my performance that year, if not better, was at least equal to this year," the defender analyzes.