"Watching (Ronaldo) from the bench, I was amazed," Croatia's reserve goalkeeper Joe Didulica said. "He made three or four sprints of about 10 meters (yards) and that was it. But I can't say a bad word against him because if I achieve half of what he's achieved, I'll be happy."

Ronaldo, who has scored 64 goals for Brazil in his career, was in the middle of a weight controversy that even involved the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who in a video conference with players just days before the team's debut asked whether the striker was fat.

Ronaldo later compared the speculation about his weight to the rumors about the president's affection for alcohol, and Silva ended having to send a fax to Ronaldo saying his previous comments about his weight were meant to end speculation, not add fuel to it.

Even Brazil's sports minister, Orlando Silva Junior, on a visit to team's training camp, carried a message to Ronaldo saying how much the president admired him.

FIFA lists Ronaldo at 82 kilograms (180 pounds), five kilograms (11 pounds) more than in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, when he weighed 77 kilograms (169 pounds). Despite being only 17 years old, Ronaldo was a member of Brazil's squad that won the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He was crucial in Brazil's 2002 campaign, leading the tournament with eight goals.

Ronaldo has said he's not worried about breaking records and only wants to help Brazil win the World Cup.

"He's a great goalscorer and I'm looking forward to him breaking Muller's record," Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar said. "I think he's had problems with his injuries and everyone has to respect him."