Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho or simply Ronaldinho, was born on 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He played as an attacking midfielder or left winger and is considered one of football's all-time greats. His trophy case includes a Ballon d'Or, two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and two FIFPro Player of the Season honors. He stands alone as the only player to have won a World Cup, Copa América, Confederations Cup, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and Ballon d'Or. Nicknamed "O Bruxo" (The Wizard), he was famous for his dribbling, free kicks, tricks, feints, and goal-scoring and playmaking ability, making him a global icon and one of the most valuable sports figures of his era.

Ronaldinho started his professional career with Grêmio in 1998. At age 20, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, becoming a key player and helping the club reach the 2003 Coupe de France final. He joined Barcelona in 2003, where he hit his peak, winning his first FIFA World Player of the Year award as Barcelona took the 2004–05 La Liga title. The following season, he was crucial in Barcelona's double of La Liga and the Champions League, earning the 2005 Ballon d'Or and a second World Player of the Year award. These achievements are credited with revitalizing Barcelona in the early 2000s.

Though Barcelona won no major trophies in 2006–07, Ronaldinho had his most prolific league season, scoring a career-high 21 goals. After a drop in form and fitness the next season, Barcelona sold him to AC Milan in 2008. In his second season there, he returned to top form, leading Serie A with 15 assists, and later contributed to the team's 2010–11 Serie A title. He returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo in 2011, then Atlético Mineiro a year later, winning the 2013 Copa Libertadores. He moved to Mexico's Querétaro, then back to Brazil for Fluminense in 2015. In 2026, he came out of retirement to play for Serie C side Ravenna.

His individual accolades include three selections each to the UEFA Team of the Year and FIFA World XI, UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for 2005–06, and South American Footballer of the Year in 2013. In 2004, Pelé named him to the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. World Soccer magazine voted him World Player of the Decade for the 2000s in 2009.

For Brazil, Ronaldinho earned 97 caps and scored 33 goals, playing in two World Cups. He debuted by winning the 1999 Copa América and was a key part of the 2002 World Cup-winning team, forming an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Rivaldo, earning a spot in the World Cup All-Star Team. He captained Brazil to the 2005 Confederations Cup title, being named man of the match in the final, and also captained the Olympic team to a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Born in Porto Alegre, his mother Miguelina was a salesperson who became a nurse, and his father João was a shipyard worker and footballer for local club Esporte Clube Cruzeiro. When his older brother Roberto signed with Grêmio, the family moved to a wealthier area, Guarujá, thanks to a house gift from Grêmio to keep Roberto. Roberto's career ended early due to injury. When Ronaldinho was eight, his father hit his head and drowned in the family pool. Roberto later became his manager, and his sister Deisi his press coordinator.

His football skills emerged at age eight, and he got the nickname Ronaldinho (meaning "little Ronaldo") because he was often the youngest and smallest in youth matches. He took up futsal and beach football, which shaped his ball control and signature moves. At 13, he scored all 23 goals in a 23–0 win against a local team, his first media attention. He was recognized as a rising star at the 1997 U-17 World Championship in Egypt, scoring two penalties. His childhood idols included Rivelino, Diego Maradona, Romário, and future teammates Ronaldo and Rivaldo.

Ronaldinho began with Grêmio's youth squad and debuted for the senior team in the 1998 Copa Libertadores. In 1999, at 18, he scored 22 goals in 47 matches, with standout performances in derbies against Internacional, notably in the Rio Grande do Sul State Championship final on 20 June 1999, where he embarrassed 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga with a flick over his head and a dribble that left him flat-footed. He also helped Grêmio win the inaugural Copa Sul.