( CNN ) -- The operation on Ronaldo 's injured left knee `` went well '' but the Brazilian striker faces a lengthy rehabilitation as he bids to save his football career . Ronaldo leaves the field in agony after suffering his latest injury blow against Livorno . Ronaldo had surgery in Paris on Thursday , the two-hour operation perfomed by Dr. Eric Rolland with Dr. Gerard Saillant , who carried out a similar repair to his right knee in 2000 , in attendance . `` The operation went well , '' said Saillant . `` The intervention was of the same type as the one in 2000 . The healing period should last nine months , '' he said in sports paper L'Equipe . Ronaldo was injured playing for AC Milan in a 1-1 draw with Liverno on Wednesday night and teammate Clarence Seedorf gave CNN a graphic description of the incident . `` It was like a film I already saw , '' said the Dutch star who was on the pitch when Ronaldo suffered his previous serious injury . `` I saw his reaction , I was frozen by the reality , a bad , bad thing . My heart went out to him because it was his second injury . I hope he has the will to come back , '' added Seedorf . Ater the two-hour operation at Pitie-Salpetriere hospital , the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year is likely to need about 10 days of physical therapy , L'Equipe said . Ronaldo , 31 , has battled serious injuries throughout his career , and has played sparingly since joining Milan from Real Madrid in January 2007 . Wednesday 's match was only his fifth in Serie A this season after injuring his thigh during preseason training on July 31 . He returned in November , but has been in and out of the team due to a series of recurring problems . E-mail to a friend .
Ronaldo was in Paris following surgery on his ruptured left Achilles tendons . The doctor who performed the two - hour operation said it went ` ` very well '' Ronaldo suffered injury playing for Inter Milan against Chelsea on Wednesday .