BRAZIL soccer great Ronaldo who, like half of his country’s population, is overweight, is to star in a television reality show that will chronicle his battle against the bulge.

    For three months the portly ex-striker, now a member of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup organizing committee, will submit to a series of physical exercises and dietary reeducation, which will be aired every Sunday.

    “I have problems with the weighing scales. It’s a real trauma,” the Globo channel’s G1 Web site quoted the 35-year-old star as saying at the weekend.

    “I have already tackled many challenges and this one will not be easy. Those who have already tried to lose weight know that. But I am getting on with it in high spirits,” added Ronaldo.

    He retired last year and disclosed that he had long been suffering from thyroid problems, which caused him to gain a great deal of weight.

    Ronaldo said he wanted to be fit for an annual charity match in which he will take part along with his ex-Real Madrid teammate and French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre late this year.

    Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 international matches, scoring 62 goals, and was part of the national squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

    He retired prematurely after suffering many knee injuries.

    (SD-Agencies)