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| Ronaldo de Assis Moreira | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ronaldinho |
| Fullname | Ronaldo de Assis Moreira |
| Birth date | 1980-03-21 |
| Birth place | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Height | 1.81 m |
| Position | Attacking midfielder, forward |
| Youth clubs | Grêmio |
| Senior clubs | Grêmio; Paris Saint-Germain; Barcelona; AC Milan; Flamengo; Atlético Mineiro; Querétaro; Fluminense |
| National team | Brazil |
| National caps | 97 |
| National goals | 33 |
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is a Brazilian former professional footballer renowned for his creativity, technical skill, and flair as an attacking midfielder and forward. Emerging from Porto Alegre and Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, he achieved global prominence at Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, later representing AC Milan and clubs in Brazil and Mexico. He won major club and international honours, including the FIFA World Cup and the Ballon d'Or, and is widely cited among the most influential entertainers in modern football.
Born in Porto Alegre into a family with strong football connections, he grew up in the Mangueira-like neighborhoods of Rio Grande do Sul and was influenced by relatives who played for local sides including Grêmio. During childhood he trained at neighborhood pitches and futsal courts associated with Clube Esportivo Bento Gonçalves and local academies, before joining the youth system of Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense. At Grêmio he progressed through age groups alongside contemporaries scouted by CBF-affiliated scouts and coaches from state competitions such as the Campeonato Gaúcho. His youth development featured exposure to styles associated with Pelé-era improvisation and Brazilian futsal traditions linked to Garrincha and Zico.
He made his professional debut for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense and attracted attention during performances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and Copa Libertadores qualifiers, prompting a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. At PSG he adapted to Ligue 1 tactics under managers connected to Luis Fernández-style coaching, prompting interest from elite clubs. His move to FC Barcelona in 2003 marked a peak: paired with players from La Liga such as Samuel Eto'o, Xavi Hernández, and later influencing the era of Andrés Iniesta, he helped Barcelona to La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League triumph in 2006. After Barcelona he joined AC Milan in Serie A, competing against sides like Inter Milan and Juventus FC and facing managers from the Marcello Lippi and Carlo Ancelotti schools. Later spells included returns to Brazil with CR Flamengo, Clube Atlético Mineiro, and Fluminense FC, and a short stint at Querétaro F.C. in Liga MX, where he linked with players who had surfaced through the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF circuits. Throughout club career he was subject to transfer negotiations involving clubs such as Real Madrid CF and agents within networks connected to Jorge Mendes-style representation.
He debuted for the Brazil national football team and featured at youth level in tournaments like the FIFA World Youth Championship, winning the Golden Ball in 1997 alongside teammates from Brazil youth squads. At senior level he was part of the FIFA World Cup-winning squad in 2002 alongside stars such as Ronaldo and Rivaldo, playing under Luiz Felipe Scolari. He helped Brazil to victories in competitions including the Copa América and the FIFA Confederations Cup and was a regular selection for friendlies and qualifiers organized by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. His international spells intersected with players from clubs across Europe and South America, and he amassed appearances and goals that placed him among Brazil's most-cited attacking talents alongside names like Kaká and Romário.
He was celebrated for dribbling, vision, and set-piece technique rooted in Brazilian futsal skills associated with figures like Sócrates and Zico, routinely employing feints such as the «Elástico» popularized by Ronaldo. Analysts from outlets like UEFA-affiliated media and commentators from BBC Sport, ESPN, and Marca compared his influence to creative playmakers such as Diego Maradona and Pelé. Coaches including those from Barcelona and AC Milan highlighted his spatial awareness within systems resembling tiki-taka-adapted formations and counterpressing transitions promoted by schools linked to Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff. Critics also noted periods of inconsistent fitness and form contrasted with peak seasons that earned him awards from bodies like France Football.
His personal life included high-profile associations with musicians and public figures from Brazil and Spain, appearances at events connected to Carnival (Brazil) culture, and involvement with charitable initiatives linked to organizations operating in Porto Alegre and Minas Gerais. He maintained relationships with family members who appeared in media outlets such as Globo and engaged in ventures with brands promoted across Europe and Latin America. Legal and financial matters attracted attention in courts and fiscal agencies in jurisdictions including Spain and Brazil, with coverage by newspapers such as Folha de S.Paulo and El País.
Across club competitions he registered notable totals in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and Liga MX, contributing goals and assists in domestic leagues, continental tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, and international cup competitions. For the Brazil national football team he earned caps and goals that are recorded by confederation archives at CONMEBOL and the FIFA database. Season-by-season figures were tracked by statistical services including Opta Sports, Transfermarkt, and RSSSF.
He received team honours such as the FIFA World Cup (2002), UEFA Champions League (2005–06) with FC Barcelona, national league titles in La Liga and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A equivalents with Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo-linked competitions, and continental trophies like the Copa Libertadores-adjacent tournaments. Individual accolades included the Ballon d'Or (2005), FIFA World Player of the Year (2004, 2005), the FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball (1997), and inclusion in lists by IFFHS and France Football. He was also named in various seasonal teams of the year by organizations such as UEFA and was awarded honours by municipal governments in Porto Alegre and Belo Horizonte.
Category:Brazilian footballers Category:1980 births Category:Living people