Ronal-dough boy! Fading Brazil star piles on the pounds during his injury lay-off

However, it appears the critics - who was nicknamed 'El Gordo' - the Fat One, during his time at Real Madrid - have something to shout about as he revealed his bulging pot belly while holidaying with his fiance and friends in Ibiza.

The 31-year-old's once athletic figure has all gone to pot - particularly his once taut tummy as he was seen enjoying a summer break on a luxury yacht in Ibiza. 

Gone to pot belly: Football ace Ronaldo has piled on the pounds since he injuring his knee in February

Brazilian football ace has been out of action since February with a severe knee injury.

And it seems that during this time both his hair and his waistline have grown considerably. His club may also disapprove of the once match-fit star's smoking.

Ronaldo's weight has long been a sore point with the player.

From fab to flab: Once fit Ronaldo, seen right in 1998, has piled on the pounds since being kept out of the game reviving his nickname 'El Gordo' - The Fat One

The leading scorer at the 2002 World Cup has even had to field jokes from Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who made a jibe about the player's weight.

During the president's video conference with the team Lula jokingly asked the squad: "Ronaldo is fat, or isn't he?"

Carlos Alberto Parreira, then coach of theBrazilian team, said in a interview last Sunday that he would have cut Ronaldo because of his weight if the Fifa rules allowed it.

The football ace has won two World Cups with Brazil, including in 2002 when he scored eight goals, including two in the final against Germany. 

Ronaldo is holidaying with his pregnant fiancée - although it is debatable who is gaining the most weight