Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre), commonly known as Ronaldinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu]) or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro and for the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year. He won the award in both 2004 and 2005.
"Ronaldinho", the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo", is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho", in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.
Prior to his move to Flamengo, he played for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Barcelona and A.C. Milan. With the Spanish club, he won his first Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007.
He was also named in the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by fellow countryman Pelé, and in the FIFPro World XI consecutively from 2004–2007.
Ronaldinho has been described as being "skilful by nature, his tricks are unparalleled and he is wonderful with the ball at his feet. One of the coolest players in pressure situations" and a "fast, brash, skilful, tricky, an uninhibited playmaker" who provides "a mix of goals, assists, skills and a large repertoire of crafty moves." Former Portugal midfielder, Rui Costa, has said of him: "There are not many players who can offer goalscoring passes like he can. He is just marvellous. He is a rare case of an assist man who can provide the ball from anywhere."
Everyone was surprised at Gremio de Porto Alegre when Ronaldo Assis de Moreira presented himself in the team's junior divisions. Tall and lanky, the kid that would later be known to the world as Ronaldinho surprised everyone with a mix of goals, skills and a large repertoire of crafty moves.
Two years later he was making his debut with the club's senior team, with which he would become champion of the Rio Grande do Sul tournament in a performance that made him one of the most outstanding players of his team: he scored 15 goals in 14 games. Paris Saint Germain got his services and with them Ronaldinho made his debut in the European game. In the meantime, he was world champion with the national team in 2002, but with his French club he was unable to develop properly, and after several seasons he moved to Barcelona. There, the best version of the Brazilian player came through: he won two Liga titles and became the undisputed idol of the club, a condition that he later validated by winning the UEFA Champions League. After the arrival of Pep Guardiola at the helm of the team, Ronaldinho stopped being considered for the first-team. His poor performances, his lack of training discipline and frequent injuries, some of them regarded as doubtful by the club's management, ended up making him leave Barcelona. AC Milan was his destination, but he lasted less than three years at the club before heading back to Brazil to play for Flamengo in Janury 2011.
Strengths: Skillful by nature, his tricks are unparalleled and he is wonderful with the ball at his feet. One of the coolest players in pressure situations.
Weaknesses: His off-pitch problems hindered his development and he has lost the pace that made him most dangerous.
Career high: Picking up two World Player of the Year awards in two years, 2004 and 2005.
Career low: His exit from Barcelona and his difficult adaptation to Italian soccer was the worst moment of his career.
Style: Brash, skilful, tricky, an uninhibited playmaker.
Quotes: "There are not many players who can offer goalscoring passes like he can. He is just marvellous. He is a rare case of an assist man who can provide the ball from anywhere." Former Milan and Portugal midfielder Rui Costa.
Trivia: Ronaldinho became a player for Gremio following the advice of his older brother Roberto, who suffered a serious injury and was forced to quit
Everyone was surprised at Gremio de Porto Alegre when Ronaldo Assis de Moreira presented himself in the team's junior divisions. Tall and lanky, the kid that would later be known to the world as Ronaldinho surprised everyone with a mix of goals, skills and a large repertoire of crafty moves.
Two years later he was making his debut with the club's senior team, with which he would become champion of the Rio Grande do Sul tournament in a performance that made him one of the most outstanding players of his team: he scored 15 goals in 14 games. Paris Saint Germain got his services and with them Ronaldinho made his debut in the European game. In the meantime, he was world champion with the national team in 2002, but with his French club he was unable to develop properly, and after several seasons he moved to Barcelona. There, the best version of the Brazilian player came through: he won two Liga titles and became the undisputed idol of the club, a condition that he later validated by winning the UEFA Champions League. After the arrival of Pep Guardiola at the helm of the team, Ronaldinho stopped being considered for the first-team. His poor performances, his lack of training discipline and frequent injuries, some of them regarded as doubtful by the club's management, ended up making him leave Barcelona. AC Milan was his destination, but he lasted less than three years at the club before heading back to Brazil to play for Flamengo in Janury 2011.
Strengths: Skillful by nature, his tricks are unparalleled and he is wonderful with the ball at his feet. One of the coolest players in pressure situations.
Weaknesses: His off-pitch problems hindered his development and he has lost the pace that made him most dangerous.
Career high: Picking up two World Player of the Year awards in two years, 2004 and 2005.
Career low: His exit from Barcelona and his difficult adaptation to Italian soccer was the worst moment of his career.
Style: Brash, skilful, tricky, an uninhibited playmaker.
Quotes: "There are not many players who can offer goalscoring passes like he can. He is just marvellous. He is a rare case of an assist man who can provide the ball from anywhere." Former Milan and Portugal midfielder Rui Costa.
Trivia: Ronaldinho became a player for Gremio following the advice of his older brother Roberto, who suffered a serious injury and was forced to quit
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