Posted on Monday, 1st June 2009 by Denise I Smithson
Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira) was born on March 21, 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and would rise to be one of soccer’s greatest. The five-foot eleven, one-hundred seventy-seven pound forward would wow audiences with his mastery as early as 1999, beginning amateur play following in his father Joao’s footsteps, becoming skilled in beach and indoor (futbal) soccer.
Ronaldinho’s mother Miguelina had to raise her son afer Joao died when Ronaldinho was only eight years old; she was helped by his brother and sisters. Ronaldinho earned his first cap It was with Gremio’s senior team coached by Celso Roth that Ronaldinho won his first cap in 1999. Then in 2001, Arsenal FC got Ronaldinho in their sights, but he couldn’t obtain a work permit and so no deal was struck. But Paris Saint-Germain FC got him signed to a five-year contract. But, an unhappy Ronaldinho returned to Barcelona in 2004 after playing for Paris under allegations that he put more time into the nightlife than he did into soccer practice.
Ronaldinho and his talented teammates Ronald and Rivaldo mesmerized onlookers at the Copa America in Paraguay. Ronaldinho scored Brazil’s fifth goal in their 7-0 trouncing of rival Venezuela. When Ronaldinho scored the game-winning goal off of an astounding 30-yard free kick which completely baffled England’s goalie David Seaman at 2002’s FIFA World Cup in Japan, he had made what has hence been known as the “Wonder Goal”. Having taken the quarterfinal, his team eventually won the World Cup. Ronaldinho was rewarded by being named part of the all-tournament team.
Winning almost every possible award in soccer, Ronaldinho’s prizes include the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and the UEFA’s Champion League Award in 2006 in Barcelona-that year scoring seven goals in just twelve matches. In 2008, Sport Illustrated magazine put Ronaldinho in the top fifth wealthiest athletes at $37.5 million that included earnings, bonuses, endorsements, and appearances. Only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Beckham, and Kimi Raikkonen beat him in earnings-quite the achievement for the twenty-eight year old.
Early summer of 2008 saw Ronaldinho injure a muscle in his right leg while playing in his 200th match. Much to the dismay of spectators and fans around the world, he would be benched for the remainder of the season. But not ending there, Ronaldinho’s troubles looked worse when he and his club argued about his decision to play in the Bejing Olympic games. But after the dust had settled, Ronaldinho sealed a deal with the Italian Club AC Milan. This allowed him to play in the Olympics beside his countrymen.
Ronaldinho did turn down a $25.5 million offer from Manchester City to join AC Milan in a three-year contract-in Barcelona, he was receiving $21 million. Forced to lose his favorite jersey number 10, as it was being worm by Clarence Seedorf, he chose 80 for his year of birth. Proving just as valuable in Milan, he scored his first goal in a 1-0 victory over Internazionale in September of 2008.
Against Sporting Braga in the November 2008 UEFA Cup, Ronaldinho got Milan inot a 2-2 draw after they had fallen behind 2-0 when he scored a match-winner in the 93rd minute. His brother Roberto has been quite the force as Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto has acted as his brother’s agent and already brought him more endorsements for him that are booked up through 2014. Ronaldinho seems in better spirits these days in Milan, Italy.
Becoming a father in 2005 with the birth of his son Joao, named after his father and mother of Brazilian dancer Janaina Mendes, Ronaldinho’s soccer fate seems to be set in stone-what team he will remain on may be known only to Ronaldinho and Roberto. With fans of soccer everywhere shouting his name and cheering him on, we bet Ronaldinho will be a best bet for any team and some may dream, “what about the US?
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