Ronaldinho, the Brazilian football star, is a remarkable example of artistic football. Many even say that watching Ronaldinho play football is as artistic as watching a film.
His mesmerizing football skills left his Barcelona manager, another football legend, Frank Rijkaard, in awe, prompting him to say: "Ronaldinho was a gift to football. He made people fall in love with the game again."
Beyond club and national team football, his personal life was equally diverse. This Friday marks the 45th birthday of this gentleman. The footballing superstar was born on March 21, 1980 in Porto Alegre, the capital of Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
His birthplace was already a well-known city for football, being home to two of Brazil’s most famous clubs—Grêmio and Internacional. His father, João de Assis Moreira, was a shipyard worker and an amateur footballer, while his mother, Miguelina de Assis, was a nurse. Inspired by his father’s love for football, Ronaldinho began playing regularly from a young age.
Like many other Brazilian children, Ronaldinho grew up playing street football and beach football. From an early age, he practiced various skills, worked on his dribbling, and tried to learn tricks on his own. Seeing his son's passion for football, Ronaldinho’s father bought him his first football boots when he was just eight years old.
However, tragedy struck the family shortly after. At just eight years old, Ronaldinho lost his father. By then, his older brother had already secured a place in Brazil’s famous club, Grêmio. Later, Ronaldinho's brother also took on the role of his manager.
At the age of 13, Ronaldinho made headlines when he single-handedly scored 23 goals in a youth football match in Porto Alegre, leading his team to a massive 23-0 victory. This match brought him to media attention, and he quickly became well-known in Brazil’s youth football scene.
Soon after, he secured a place at his hometown club, Grêmio, where he began his professional career. In 1997, he was called up to Brazil’s Under-17 team and went on to win the tournament’s Bronze Ball as the third-best player.
Ronaldinho made his senior debut for Grêmio in 1998. Within a year, his footballing brilliance, precise dribbling, and exceptional game sense earned him widespread recognition. In the 1999 season, he scored 23 goals in 48 matches for Grêmio—an impressive feat for an attacking midfielder. That same year, in a match against Internacional, he mesmerized Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain, Carlos Dunga, with his exceptional football skills.
Later in 1999, Ronaldinho made his debut for the Brazil national team at just 19 years old in a friendly against Latvia. He marked his debut with two goals, leading Brazil to a 3-0 victory.
That same year, he won his first international title. Playing a crucial role in Brazil’s Copa América victory in 1999, he scored a goal and made his mark. Additionally, in the FIFA Confederations Cup that year, he won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.
His consistent performances earned him recognition in Europe, leading him to join French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2001. There, he maintained his high standards. In 2002, he was selected for Brazil’s World Cup squad for the first time.
His chemistry with Ronaldo Lima and Rivaldo flourished, forming a formidable trio that had already led Brazil to Copa América glory. Expectations were high, and they did not disappoint. Ronaldinho returned home as a World Cup champion.
His standout match in the tournament was the quarter-final against England. Michael Owen gave England the lead in the 23rd minute, but Ronaldinho was not one to be discouraged so easily. Just before half-time, he skillfully bypassed England’s defence and assisted Rivaldo for the equalizer.
Then, in the 50th minute, he stunned everyone with a magnificent 40-yard free-kick goal, sealing a 2-1 victory for Brazil. This triumph marked Brazil’s record-breaking fifth World Cup title, a feat that remains unchallenged to this day.
His outstanding World Cup performance caught the attention of Spanish club Barcelona. In 2003, Barcelona signed Ronaldinho from PSG for €32.25 million, a record-breaking transfer at the time. What followed was nothing short of a fairy tale. Over the next five years, Ronaldinho enjoyed the best period of his career in Barcelona’s colours.
With his arrival, the struggling Barcelona team began to rejuvenate. Although the club did not win a trophy in his first season, Ronaldinho's performances captivated everyone.
The 2004-05 season turned out to be one of the best seasons of his career. That season, he won his first La Liga title with Barcelona and was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year.
In the 2005-06 season, Ronaldinho enjoyed his finest campaign, winning both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona. That year, he also won the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year, and the FIFPro World Player of the Year awards.
Additionally, he was named in both the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFA World XI. His legendary status was further cemented when he scored two brilliant solo goals against Real Madrid in El Clásico, earning a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd—something only Diego Maradona had previously achieved.
In 2005, Ronaldinho was named Brazil’s national team captain and led them to victory in the Confederations Cup, where he was named Man of the Final and became the tournament’s all-time top scorer.
During his five-year tenure at Barcelona, the Brazilian legend’s list of achievements was far from empty. However, his consistent excellence also became his downfall. Gradually, he shifted his focus from football to partying, and the consequences were evident.
In the 2006-07 season, Barcelona failed to win any major trophies. Injuries further affected his form in the following season, and by then, Lionel Messi had emerged as his successor. Ronaldinho’s declining discipline and focus led Barcelona’s management to make a decision—they would let him go. His next destination was Italian club AC Milan.
Meanwhile, his performance in the 2006 World Cup was disappointing; he failed to score and managed just one assist, as Brazil were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
At AC Milan, he played alongside stars like Kaká and David Beckham, but his partying habits continued. His excessive nightlife eventually frustrated even the fans, who once ejected him from a Milan nightclub ahead of a crucial derby against Inter Milan.
After three seasons at AC Milan, he won one league title but failed to achieve major personal accolades. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he joined Brazil’s squad, but they lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. Despite still being in form, he was left out of Brazil’s 2010 World Cup squad by coach Dunga.
In 2011, Ronaldinho returned to Brazil, joining Flamengo before moving to Atlético Mineiro the following year, where he won the Copa Sudamericana. Although he played intermittently for various clubs until 2013, he was never again a regular in the national team. By 2014, it was clear that his time with Brazil was over when he was not included in the World Cup squad.
He later played for Querétaro FC in 2014 and Fluminense in 2015. After his contract ended, he distanced himself from football. Finally, in 2018, Ronaldinho officially announced his retirement, bringing an end to the career of one of Brazil’s most iconic footballers.
After retiring from football, this football legend had to go to jail on charges of passport forgery. What a cruel irony of fate!
Still, this magician, the creator of an incomparable form of football, will always have a special place in the hearts of football fans.
Happy birthday, magician.
