Ronaldinho is the only player to win every major football trophy there is
World Cup, Copa América, Confederations Cup, Champions League, Copa Libertadores and the Ballon d'Or: no other footballer has collected all six. Ronaldinho, nicknamed the Wizard, dazzled with tricks learned playing futsal and beach football as a boy in Porto Alegre, and in 2026 he even came out of retirement.
Born on 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre, he was dubbed Ronaldinho, little Ronaldo, because he was usually the youngest and smallest in youth matches. His father, a shipyard worker and local footballer, drowned in the family pool when Ronaldo was eight; his older brother Roberto, whose own Grêmio career ended with injury, became his manager. Much of his famous close control came from futsal, and he idolised Rivelino, Maradona, Romário and two future teammates, Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
At 18 he announced himself at Grêmio with 22 goals in 47 games in 1999. A move to Arsenal fell through in 2001 over a work permit, so he joined Paris Saint-Germain for 5 million euros, clashing with coach Luis Fernández but firing the club to the 2003 French Cup final. Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta had promised to sign Beckham, Henry or Ronaldinho; when the first two went elsewhere, he got the Brazilian.
Barcelona saw his peak. He was world player of the year as the club won La Liga in 2004–05, then took the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and led a league and Champions League double. He scored a career-best 21 league goals in 2006–07 before his form faded and he moved to AC Milan in 2008, helping win Serie A in 2010–11. Back in Brazil he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores with Atlético Mineiro.
For Brazil he earned 97 caps and 33 goals. He won the 1999 Copa América on debut, formed an attacking trio with Ronaldo and Rivaldo to win the 2002 World Cup, captained the 2005 Confederations Cup triumph and led the Olympic team to bronze in 2008. World Soccer named him player of the decade for the 2000s.
Source: Ronaldinho
