Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho, full name Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, born 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is a former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and forward. He emerged from Grêmio’s youth system and made his first-team debut in 1998 before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001, where his creativity and technical skill drew attention and led to a transfer to Barcelona in 2003.

At Barcelona, Ronaldinho helped the club win two La Liga titles (2004–05 and 2005–06) and the UEFA Champions League in 2005–06. His performances earned him the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005, solidifying his reputation as one of the era’s top players. He was known for his dribbling flair, inventive passing, free-kick ability, and distinctive playing style that blended improvisation with technical excellence.

Internationally, Ronaldinho represented Brazil from 1999 to 2013, earning 97 caps and scoring 33 goals. He was part of Brazil’s squad that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, contributing with his skilling and creativity on the world stage.

Following his time at Barcelona, he played for AC Milan (2008–2011), Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Querétaro, and Fluminense, among other clubs, before retiring from professional football. Off the field, he remained a globally recognized figure for his smile, charisma, and popularization of a flair-filled style of play. He was included in Pelé’s FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.