Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho (Ronaldo Assis de Moreira), 1980–, Brazilian soccer player. Also nicknamed “El Gaucho,” the agile attacking forward was a footballer from childhood. Known almost as much for his sunny personality and unfailing smile as for his superb soccer skills, he had a rare combination of technique and speed. He joined the pros in his teens, becoming (1997) a member of Grêmio in Porto Alegre. He moved on to European play with Paris St.-Germain in 2001 and in 2003 joined FC Barcelona, where he led the team to the Catalonia Cup (2003–4), the Spanish League championship (2004–5), the Spanish Super Cup (2005), and the Champions League (2006). He also won the prestigious Ballon d'Or (2005) and was named European footballer of the year (2005) and world player of the year (2004–5). He played for A.C. Milan from 2008 to 2011, then for four teams in Brazil and Mexico, having most success with Atlético Mineiro, which won its first Copa Libertadores de América in 2013. He played for Brazil in international matches from 1999 to 2013 and was instrumental in its 2002 World Cup victory. He retired in 2015.

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