The Incredible Journey of Ronaldinho Gaúcho
Brazil’s Magical Genius Who Transformed Football
Born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira in 1980 in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, few could have predicted Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s rise from poor favela streets to becoming a footballing icon renowned for his spellbinding skills and joyful creativity.
Ronaldinho’s talent was evident from a staggeringly young age. By just 8 years old, he could juggle the ball 1,000 times without letting it hit the ground. His days were spent playing ‘futebol de salão’ (futsal) and football on the beach, environments which honed his supreme control and touch.
At only 13 years old, Ronaldinho scored all 23 goals in a youth match his team won 23–0, foreshadowing the promise he held. He quickly gained the nickname Ronaldinho because he was often the youngest and smallest on the pitch.
By 17, his wizardry on the ball for local club Gremio against top Brazil sides caught the eye of national scouts and managers everywhere. He made his professional debut in 1998, bedazzling defenders…
