Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and current ambassador for Barcelona. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder, but was also deployed as a forward or a winger. Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or. He has also played for Milan, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Querétaro and Fluminense.

About Ronaldinho in brief

Summary RonaldinhoRonaldo de Assis Moreira, or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and current ambassador for Barcelona. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder, but was also deployed as a forward or a winger. Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or. He also captained the Brazil Olympic team to a bronze medal in men’s football at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players. In his international career with Brazil, Ronaldinho earned 97 caps and scored 33 goals and represented his country in two World Cups. He has also played for Milan, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Querétaro and Fluminense in his career. He was first given the nickname Ronaldinho – meaning Ronaldinho of the small – because he was often the youngest and smallest player in youth club matches. He developed an interest in futsal and beach football, which later expanded to organized football. Growing up, his idols included the World Cup winning stars Diego Rlino and Diego Maradona. His first brush with the media came at the age of 13, when he scored all 23 goals in a 23–0 victory against a local team in a Futsal match. He made his career debut for Grêmio, in 1998. At age 20, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in France before signing for Barcelona in 2003.

In 2005, he won the UEFA Champions League and the La Liga title with Barcelona. In the same season, he also won the 2005 Ballon D’Or and the FIFA World player of the year award. In 2007, he left Barcelona to join Milan, winning the 2010–11 Serie A and the 2013 Copa Libertadores. He then returned to Brazil to play for Flamengos in 2011 and AtlétICO Mineiro a year later. In 2013, he became the first Brazilian player to win the FIFA Club Footballer of theyear award. He is also the only player to have won both FIFA Club and World Player awards in the same year. He won the FIFA Confederations Cup title with Brazil in 2005 and was named man of the match in the final of the 2005 FIFA World Cup. In 2008, he played in the Copa América final against Real Madrid. In 2009, he scored two goals on his debut in the World Championship in Egypt, which he scored on penalty kicks on his 17th appearance for the Brazil national team. In 2010, he helped Brazil to a 3-1 win over Argentina in the 2010 World Cup final. In 2011, he joined Flamengoes and won the 2013Copa Liberto. In 2012, he signed for Mexican side Queretaro. In 2014, he returned to Flamengoos to play in the 2013 World Cup and the 2014 World Cup Final. In 2015, he starred in a friendly against Argentina at the Estadio Mineiro.