Ronaldinho is acclaimed as the world’s best. No other player has such a range of tricks at his disposal and none seems to enjoy himself as much.
RIO DE JANEIRO: Ronaldinho burst on to the international scene in a 1999 Copa America game against Venezuela when he scored a goal reminiscent of Pele’s 1958 famous World Cup final effort. Two minutes after coming on as a substitute for his second international appearance, the 19-year-old Ronaldinho flicked the ball over a defender, swept past another and fired the ball into the goal between goalkeeper Renny Vega and the near post. It was clear that Brazil had unearthed another gem.
Seven years on, Ronaldinho is widely acclaimed as the world’s best. No other player has such a wide range of tricks at his disposal and no other player seems to enjoy himself as much, as illustrated by Ronaldinho’s trademark grin. Yet there is still an underlying feeling in Brazil that something is missing from Ronaldinho’s career. Despite that spectacular goal in 1999 and his presence in the 2002 World Cup winning team, Ronaldinho has yet to perform at his very best for his country on a consistent basis.
There have been flashes of his brilliance but, as often as not, he has failed to meet expectations. In 2002, for example, he played second fiddle to Rivaldo and Ronaldo and blotted his copybook by being sent off early in the second half of the quarter-final against England shortly after scoring the winning goal. There is little doubt that his World Player of Year award in 2005 was achieved on the basis of what he did with Barcelona rather than Brazil, even allowing for his display in the Confederations Cup. It may seem harsh to say that Ronaldinho still has something to prove but the player seems ready to have the last laugh. His performances for Barca during their march to the Champions League final have been spell-binding, even though he was not at his absolute best in their 2-1 win over Arsenal in the final in Paris on May 17. Last year he scored one of the greatest goals ever seen in a European tie in England when he rifled home an unstoppable shot against Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
There is now a huge expectation on him to perform to those high standards in the finals in Germany. For Brazilians, who have been spoiled by the talents of Pele, Garrincha and Zico in the past, anything other than a great World Cup will be seen as a let-down.
Ronnie facts
- Ronaldinho’s childhood was spent in Favelas (Brazilian shanty towns or slum) in Porto-Alegre in Brazil
- His father played in an amateur football club while his brother, Roberto, was a star of the amateur football club, but was sidelined by a knee injury
- Was infamous for bad behaviour, partying, drinking, late nights and tardiness when he played for France’s Paris Saint-Germain
- In December 2005, Ronaldinho and Mauricio de Sousa, a famous Brazilian comic book author, announced the creation of cartoon characters based on Ronaldinho, his brother and his mother. In the UK, the comic is published in children’s magazine, KiCK!
- He now earns more money than David Beckham per year through endorsements
Ronaldinho means ‘Little Ronaldo’ in Portuguese
Full name: Ronaldo de Assis de Moreira
DoB: March 21, 1980
Birthplace: Porto Alegre
Height: 5’11
Weight: 80 kgs
Nickname(s): Ronnie, R10, Ronaldinho Gaucho
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Current Club: Barcelona
Other clubs:
Gremio (1998-2001),
Paris SG (2001-2003)
International appearances: 63
Goals scored: 27
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