SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Brazil striker Ronaldo had minor surgery Saturday to remove calcifications on his left leg.

The calcifications had caused the Real Madrid player pain in recent months, said Ronald's spokesman Paulo Julio Clement. He is expected to leave the Pasteur Hospital in Rio de Janeiro by early Sunday.

Ronaldo will be sidelined for four weeks. He is expected to remain in Brazil for two weeks before returning to Spain for physical therapy.

Ronaldo scored three times at the World Cup before Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 1-0 loss to eventual runner-up France. He became the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 15 goals.

Brazil national team doctor Jose Luiz Runco performed the surgery, and Real Madrid doctor Alfonso del Corral was present for the procedure, which lasted less than two hours.

The 29-year-old had two serious injuries earlier in his career. In 1999, he injured his knee with Inter Milan and needed surgery. A year later, he twisted the same knee and was sidelined for several months after another surgery.

He recovered to help lead Brazil to its fifth world title in 2002. He was the tournament's top scorer with eight goals in seven matches -- including two in the final against Germany.