Guarani Futebol Clube
Born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Ronaldo started playing with Guarani Futebol Clube, moving to Clube Atlético Mineiro shortly after. In 1996, aged 22, he joined S.L. Benfica in Portugal, backing up Jorge Bermúdez and Hélder Cristóvão in his first season but being first-choice afterwards, as the Lisbon and Primeira Liga club failed to win any silverware.