The Brazilian claims to have been inundated with annoying phone calls and even a few threats since the number appeared in an article on May 15.

Ronaldo's lawyers are citing the paper for an `unacceptable intrusion into (his) private life' plus his financial losses, after the overwhelming number of calls meant his agents were unable to keep in touch.

``With the telephone continually engaged, it was impossible for his agents, managers and assistants to make contact, and prevented him from settling important business matters during a period just before the World Cup finals,'' the accusation reads. The amount of the claim was not indicated, but Ronaldo's instructions are for any settlement to be entirely donated to charity.