Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or winger. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or. He is the only player ever to have won a World Cup, a Copa América, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores and a Ballon d'Or. A global icon of the sport, Ronaldinho was renowned for his technical skills, creativity, dribbling ability and accuracy from free-kicks, his use of tricks, feints, no-look passes and overhead kicks, as well as his ability to score and create goals, all prominent characteristics of his early-age background playing futsal. He is known by the nickname "O Bruxo".
Ronaldinho in 2019
Born in Porto Alegre in 1980, Ronaldinho moved into an affluent suburb at the age of eight
Ronaldinho arrived at the Parc des Princes (pictured) to much fanfare.
Ronaldinho (pictured in 2004) was named world player of the year in his second season with the club
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award presented annually by the sport's governing body, FIFA, between 1991 and 2015 at the FIFA World Player Gala. Coaches and captains of international teams and media representatives selected the player they deem to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.
Ronaldo, the youngest recipient of the award aged 20, won it three times.
Marta, the youngest recipient of the award aged 20, won it five times.
Birgit Prinz won the award three times.
Image: Ronaldo em campo
