Ronaldinho Gaúcho: The story of the spectacular player who led Brazil to win the 2002 World Cup.

Ronaldinho also known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, was born Ronaldo Assis Moreira on March 21st 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He is known for being a gifted soccer player who was a key member of the Brazilian World Cup-winning team in 2002. Soccer has been part of Ronaldinho's life since the day he was born: both his father, João Moreira, and his brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, were former professional soccer players.

When he was a kid, his father encouraged him to start playing soccer, and he became a regular at local club games. Around that time, he was given the nickname Ronaldinho. He gained notoriety at the age of 13 when he scored 23 goals in a single match in Brazil, winning him a spot on the under-17 national team that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

He admired his father, who died from a heart attack when he was 8, who offered him "some of the best advice I've ever had", as Ronaldinho phrased it. That advice was to keep things as simple as possible when playing soccer. And he sticks to his father's instruction, stating that "playing simple is one of the most complicated things you can do on the field.” Thanks to his father's guidance and his own perseverance, Ronaldinho fulfilled a childhood dream in 2003 when he joined FC Barcelona, one of the most legendary soccer clubs in the world.

Professional career and achievements

His first professional deal was with Porto Alegre's Grêmio, where he made his senior debut in the 1998 Copa Libertadores (an annual official international soccer tournament organized by the South American Soccer Confederation). In 2001, Ronaldinho signed a contract with French Paris Saint-Germain, where he became a successful player. His performance was crucial in the 2001/2002 season of the Coupe de la Ligue.

He joined FC Barcelona in 2003, and in 2004/2005, where he won his first league title. He was at the top of his career, having been awarded FIFA World Player of the Year for two years in a row. He was invaluable in helping Barcelona win their first Champions League title in 14 years in the 2005-06 season. His performance was outstanding, as he finished with a career-high 26 goals, including seven in the Champions League.

Milan signed him in 2008, but he didn’t stay long. He joined Flamingo in 2011, and in 2012 went to Atlético Mineiro, and led his team to its first Copa Libertadores title. Being such an amazing player, in 2014 he was offered several contracts: he chose the Mexican club Querétaro. Ronaldinho announced his return to Brazil in 2015, signing a contract with Fluminense.

Retirement

Ronaldinho was one of the eight players to win the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. He announced his retirement from soccer on January 16th, 2018, at the age of 38. He is considered one of the most talented soccer players of his generation.