AC Milan forward Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in a 1-1 draw with Livorno yesterday, and the Brazilian was carried off the field crying.

 

The injury occurred two minutes after Ronaldo entered the game during a play that earned Milan an equalizing penalty.

 

Milan disclosed the injury in a statement after he was taken to the Galeazzi hospital, saying the full extent of the problem was unknown.

 

"It's a problem with the tendon in his left knee, not the knee that was operated on in the past," Milan vice president Adriano Galliani told Italy's Sky TV. "The severity of it isn't known yet, but it's a serious problem."

 

A three-time FIFA world player of the year, Ronaldo has battled serious injuries throughout his career.

 

He has played sparingly since joining Milan from Real Madrid in January 2007. Yesterday's match was only his fifth in Serie A this season.

 

Ronaldo injured his thigh July 31 during preseason training. He returned in November but has been on and off the roster due to a series of recurring problems.

 

Midfielder Nico Pulzetti celebrated his 24th birthday by putting Livorno ahead in the 50th minute and Andrea Pirlo equalized with a penalty for Milan in the 61st.

 

With 37 points, Milan moved within one point of fourth-place Fiorentina and Italy's final European Champions League berth for next season. Livorno moved into a tie for 14th place with Lazio, with 23 points each.

 

"We did a lot of good things in the first half, but we also spent a lot of energy, which cost us when they went ahead in the second half," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But a draw was OK tonight. We're not in great shape with all these games and we've got a lot of injuries."

 

Starting with the youngest attack in Serie A, 18-year-old Alberto Paloschi and 25-year-old Alberto Gilardino, Milan dominated the first half but had several shots parried by Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, Gianluigi Buffon's backup for Italy.

 

Pulzetti changed the tone of the match with a long, angled shot following a weak clearing attempt by Khaka Kaladze with a header.

 

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced Paloschi and Gilardino with Filippo Inzaghi and Ronaldo in the 56th and Milan was awarded a penalty two minutes later.

 

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily February 14, 2008)