Ronaldo to miss Brazil qualifiers

Ronaldo visited former Brazil coach Mario Zagallo in hospital on Monday

Real Madrid and Brazil striker Ronaldo will miss his country's next two World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup, which takes place from June 15-29.

Ronaldo had asked coach Carlos Alberto Parreira if he could skip the Confederations Cup, not the qualifiers.

But Parreira said: "Ronaldo has problems that would affect his ability to perform. We decided it would be best to accede to his wishes."

Brazil play Paraguay on 5 June and Argentina on 8 June.

Ronaldo asked to be released from the eight-team Confederations Cup, which takes place in Germany, claiming that he needed time to recover from the Spanish season.

I just want to rest, get away from it all and get ready for next year, which is a World Cup year Ronaldo

However, it had been expected that he would play in the qualifiers - when the 2002 World Champions hope to clinch their place in the 2006 finals.

"I was prepared to play in both games," the star told Brazilian television on Monday.

"I was ready and motivated but the Brazilian FA 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 a World Cup year."

Last week, Parreira warned that he would not accept fatigue as an excuse for not playing in the Confederations Cup.

But it is widely believed that Ronaldo has been unsettled by his high-profile split from fiancee Daniela Cicarelli.

Ronaldo, a three-time Fifa World Player of the year, and Cicarelli announced their separation on 11 May - less than three months after they had celebrated their engagement in a lavish party at the French chateau of Chantilly on Valentine's Day.

Parreira called up Sao Paulo striker Grafite to replace Ronaldo for the qualifiers and Sevilla's Julio Cesar for the eight-team Confederation Cup.