RONALDINHO

RONALDINHO

Friday, July 10, 2009

Personal Information

Name: Ronaldinho de Assis Moreira
Nickname: Ronaldinho Gaucho ('little' Ronaldinho)
Playing Name: Ronaldinho
Nationality: Brazilian
Place and Date of Birth: Porto Alegre, Brazil. March 21, 1980
Playing Position: Attacking Midfielder
Squad number: 10
Current Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Brazil International?: Yes. Debut against Venezuela June 26, 1999
Height: 181cm
Weight: 80kg

One of the finest attacking players of his generation, Ronaldinho is a legend in Brazil and has achieved almost every top honour in the game; he is also one of the most marketable players in the world thanks to his huge profile.
Making his name at Grêmio, then Paris Saint-Germain, he excelled at Barcelona where he won back-to-back FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005, before moving to Milan in the summer of 2008.
Like most Brazilians, Ronaldinho began his career at a very early age. He developed an interest in futsal and beach football, and drew attention at age 13 when he scored all 23 goals in a 23-0 victory against a local team.
Starting his footballing life in the Grêmio youth squad, he made his senior debut for his club during the 1998 Copa Libertadores, but was already on the radar of the national setup.
One of few Brazilian players to have played at every international age level, he impressed in the 1997 U-17 World Championship in Egypt and went on to win the Copa America with the seniors in 1999.
In three years at Gremio he netted nearly a goal every other game and attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain who brought him to Europe. He signed a five-year deal, but lasted only two as accusations over his life off the pitch blighted his career and, after PSG failed to qualify for Europe in 2003, he made it clear he wanted to move on.
Having impressed alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil a year earlier, he was linked with Manchester United, but Ronaldinho eventually signed for Barcelona for £21m and helped lead the club to a second-place league finish in his first season.
In 2004 he set the world alight with his flair and attacking brilliance. He won his first Spanish league title and was named FIFA World Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.
The following season he continued his great form: winning the 2005 Confederations Cup, being named European Footballer of the Year and sealing the FIFA World Player of the Year award for a second time. He also picked up his second league winners medal and first Champions League title as Barcelona beat Arsenal in Paris at the end of the 2005-06 season.
Despite a career-high 21 goals in La Liga, 2006-07 brought no major trophies for Ronaldinho and as he began to become plagued by injuries, he was criticised for problems in the Barcelona dressing room, his weight and, again, his late-night partying antics.
Shortly after playing his 200th match for Barcelona in May 2008, club chief Joan Laporta stated that Ronaldinho needed a "new challenge" and the player turned down a £25m offer from Manchester City to join Italian giants AC Milan on a three-year contract for a fee of £14.6m.
He struggled to win approval at first, but ended his debut season in Serie A with eight goals in 16 starts - with Milan in third place.
Viewed as one of the best players in history, Ronaldinho has much to do to return to the top of the game, but his contribution to the sport will never be forgotten by an adoring Brazilian public.