Brazils' Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, who came into the world on March 21st, 1980 in Porto Alegre, has become simply one of the best soccer players in the world and perhaps ever in his less-than-30-years in the world. At 5'11" and 177-lbs, "Ronaldinho" started thrilling spectators all the way back in 1999 as he dazzled players and spectators with his mastery of playing forward. Before that, he was following in the cleat-steps of his father Joao by playing in amateur league beach and indoor soccer, or "futball".
Born to Miguelina, and cared for by his sisters and brother after his father's death when he was only eight, Ronaldinho achieved his first cap with the Brazilian senior team in 1999 with club Gremio under head coach Celso Roth. In 2001, Arsenal FC wanted Ronaldinho but this move would not go through as Ronaldinho was unable to obtain a work permit. Eventually, Ronaldinho would sign a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain FC where some reported he enjoyed his nightlife more than football. Unhappy in Paris, Ronaldiho finally went back to Barcelona in 2004.
Major success came to Ronaldinho at the Copa America held in Paraguay where he mesmerized audiences playing alongside teammates Ronald and Rivaldo scoring Brazil's fifth goal in a 7-0 wipeout of Venezuela. Now known as the "wonder goal," in 2002 during the FIFA World Cup in Japan, Ronaldinho scored the game-winning goal through an amazing 30-yard free kick that surprised the English's unaware goalkeeper, David Seaman. His team would win this quarterfinal and go on to win the World Cup where Ronaldinho achieved soccer greatness by being named to the all-tournament team.
Soccer's greatest prizes seem magnetized to Ronaldinho. He was won: the FIFA World Player of the Year (2004 and 2005); the UEFA's Champion League Award (2006, a years when he put in seven goals in only12 matches) in Barcelona; and numerous others. "Sports Illustrated" magazine declared that Ronaldinho was the athlete with the fifth highest income in the world for 2008; his earnings of $37.5 million included his salary and bonuses on top of product endorsements and pay for making live appearances. The 28-year-old was now in the company of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Beckham, and Kimi Raikkonen.
During his 200th match in the summer of 2008, Ronaldinho dismayed his fans and spectators of soccer by going down with a right leg injury--an injury that got him sitting the bench for the rest of the season. Then to complicate matters, Ronaldinho and his club got into an argument over his decision to play in the Bejing Olympic games. Nevertheless, Ronaldinho eventually got a deal with the Italian Club AC Milan and went on to play in the Olympics alongside his countrymen.
Manchester City offered Ronaldinho a contract for over $25 million to play for them at a time when he was getting paid $21 million in Barcelona; however, he turned down this offer but instead when with AC Milan on a three-year deal. However, he gave up his #10 because it had been retired for Italian AC Milan player Clarence Seedorf. He replaced it with #80 for the year of his birth. Milan quickly saw the wisdom of their new player selection when Ronaldinho scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Internazionale in September of 2008.
Ronaldinho drove Milan into a 2-2 draw after they had fallen behind 2-0 against Sporting Braga in November 2008's UEFA Cup and then scored a match-winner in the 93rd minute of the match. Ronaldinho's brother Roberto has been driving his brother as his agent, and has gotten him endorsement after endorsement so that his great soccer playing sibling is booked up with them through 2014. And Ronaldinho apparently enjoys his current home of Milan, Italy much more than he did Paris.
In 2005 Ronaldinho named his and Brazilian dancer Janaina Mendes' newborn son Joao was born. Only the soccer star and his brother the agent know where Ronaldinho is going to wind up next. However, many are already thinking, "If Beckham can go to the United States, why not Ronaldinho?
Born to Miguelina, and cared for by his sisters and brother after his father's death when he was only eight, Ronaldinho achieved his first cap with the Brazilian senior team in 1999 with club Gremio under head coach Celso Roth. In 2001, Arsenal FC wanted Ronaldinho but this move would not go through as Ronaldinho was unable to obtain a work permit. Eventually, Ronaldinho would sign a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain FC where some reported he enjoyed his nightlife more than football. Unhappy in Paris, Ronaldiho finally went back to Barcelona in 2004.
Major success came to Ronaldinho at the Copa America held in Paraguay where he mesmerized audiences playing alongside teammates Ronald and Rivaldo scoring Brazil's fifth goal in a 7-0 wipeout of Venezuela. Now known as the "wonder goal," in 2002 during the FIFA World Cup in Japan, Ronaldinho scored the game-winning goal through an amazing 30-yard free kick that surprised the English's unaware goalkeeper, David Seaman. His team would win this quarterfinal and go on to win the World Cup where Ronaldinho achieved soccer greatness by being named to the all-tournament team.
Soccer's greatest prizes seem magnetized to Ronaldinho. He was won: the FIFA World Player of the Year (2004 and 2005); the UEFA's Champion League Award (2006, a years when he put in seven goals in only12 matches) in Barcelona; and numerous others. "Sports Illustrated" magazine declared that Ronaldinho was the athlete with the fifth highest income in the world for 2008; his earnings of $37.5 million included his salary and bonuses on top of product endorsements and pay for making live appearances. The 28-year-old was now in the company of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Beckham, and Kimi Raikkonen.
During his 200th match in the summer of 2008, Ronaldinho dismayed his fans and spectators of soccer by going down with a right leg injury--an injury that got him sitting the bench for the rest of the season. Then to complicate matters, Ronaldinho and his club got into an argument over his decision to play in the Bejing Olympic games. Nevertheless, Ronaldinho eventually got a deal with the Italian Club AC Milan and went on to play in the Olympics alongside his countrymen.
Manchester City offered Ronaldinho a contract for over $25 million to play for them at a time when he was getting paid $21 million in Barcelona; however, he turned down this offer but instead when with AC Milan on a three-year deal. However, he gave up his #10 because it had been retired for Italian AC Milan player Clarence Seedorf. He replaced it with #80 for the year of his birth. Milan quickly saw the wisdom of their new player selection when Ronaldinho scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Internazionale in September of 2008.
Ronaldinho drove Milan into a 2-2 draw after they had fallen behind 2-0 against Sporting Braga in November 2008's UEFA Cup and then scored a match-winner in the 93rd minute of the match. Ronaldinho's brother Roberto has been driving his brother as his agent, and has gotten him endorsement after endorsement so that his great soccer playing sibling is booked up with them through 2014. And Ronaldinho apparently enjoys his current home of Milan, Italy much more than he did Paris.
In 2005 Ronaldinho named his and Brazilian dancer Janaina Mendes' newborn son Joao was born. Only the soccer star and his brother the agent know where Ronaldinho is going to wind up next. However, many are already thinking, "If Beckham can go to the United States, why not Ronaldinho?
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