From World-best player to Paraguayan Prison to Music star with ladies in bikinis: How Ronaldinho keeps living the luxury life

Ronaldo de Assis Morreira, popularly known as Ronaldinho, is one of the greats in football. He was at the peak of his powers as he led Barcelona to win the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and he also won the FIFA Ballon d'Or title. At Barcelona, he was earning a monthly salary of £480,000 and living the good life with fast cars, women and parties. However, after a career that tailed off with his exit from Barcelona, the Brazilian found himself in financial trouble too. 

Ronaldinho spent 32 days in a Paraguayan prison in 2020 after he was alleged to have entered the country with fake documents. Earlier in 2019, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were seized by the Brazilian government due to his failure to pay £8m in taxes and fines that accumulated over 10 years. Over 50 of his houses were seized too for building a structure in a government-reserved conservation area and he was said to be bankrupt with less than £10 to his name. 

Since his release from prison, Ronaldinho has started on a journey of turning his life around. The former PSG, Barcelona & AC Milan star is said to have made close to £705,000 through multiple businesses in just 4 months after he left prison. Ronaldinho acted as a Brand ambassador for Atletico Mineiro's stadium, the venue of his 2013 Copa Libertadores triumph. 

The former World best player also opened a music studio at Belo Horizonte after he received an honorary citizenship title from the city. In his fledgling music career, he made a video with rapper Djonga and the musical group, Recayd Mob. The video, which featured Ronaldinho surrounded by ladies in bikinis, racked up one million YouTube views in less than a week. 

Ronaldinho has also launched an organic gin brand called 'R-ONE.' The gin is featured in his music videos. The grinning superstar also cashes in on his popularity by featuring as ambassadors for many brands including Buser (a travel application company), Betcris (a betting company), and e-sports companies Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) & FIFA. 

Alongside all of this, Ronaldinho works with the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism as an ambassador. A documentary on the player's career is also expected to be released later this year. He has close ties with the government too, having met with President Jair Bolsonaro since he left Paraguayan prison.