Ronaldinho, whose real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira and who is also widely known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, was born on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. His mother, Dona Miguelina Elói Assis dos Santos, worked as a nurse, while his father, João de Assis Moreira, was employed as a shipyard worker. When Ronaldinho was only eight years old, he lost his father after he suffered a fatal heart attack in a swimming pool.

Ronaldinho was born during a period when a large part of Brazil was struggling economically. The family’s livelihood was mainly supported by his older brother, Roberto Assis, who earned income through football. Roberto signed a contract with Grêmio, and the club provided him with a house, allowing the family to move together to the Guarujá district of Porto Alegre. During the 1980s, football represented a unique escape route for Brazilian children, both financially and emotionally. For Ronaldinho, the goal was clear from the beginning. His first idol and coach was his brother Roberto Assis. In later years, Roberto became his manager, while his sister Deisi Assis worked as his press coordinator.

Ronaldinho first attracted media attention at the age of 13 when he scored all 23 goals in a local match that ended in a 23–0 victory. He gained international recognition by becoming the top scorer at the 1997 FIFA Under-17 World Championship held in Egypt. In 1998, he signed his first professional contract with Grêmio. To avoid confusion with the famous Brazilian striker Ronaldo, he was given the nickname “Ronaldinho,” which in Portuguese means “Little Ronaldo.”

Ronaldinho played for Grêmio until 2001, when he signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. However, a dispute arose between the two clubs regarding the transfer fee, and the matter was taken to court. As a result, Ronaldinho was forced to stay away from football for six months. After the payment of a 4.5 million dollar transfer fee, he returned to the pitch. His first season at PSG was not very successful, and his fondness for Paris nightlife reportedly caused tension with the head coach.

In his second season with the French club, Ronaldinho’s performances improved significantly, and he frequently expressed his desire to move to a bigger team. Due to contractual obligations, he could not leave immediately. In 2003, when PSG failed to qualify for European competitions, the club was forced to put him on the transfer list. Manchester United, who had previously lost David Beckham to Real Madrid, were among the main candidates. Just as Ronaldinho was about to accept Manchester United’s offer, FC Barcelona completed the transfer on July 19, 2003, for a fee of 27 million euros.

Ronaldinho made his debut for FC Barcelona on July 27, 2003. He achieved the Spanish league title he had always dreamed of during the 2004–2005 season. Between 2008 and 2011, he played for AC Milan, showing an inconsistent performance overall. In his first season, he scored 9 goals in 33 matches. In his second season, he improved his form, scoring 15 goals in 43 matches, but Milan failed to win the league title. During the 2010–2011 season, Ronaldinho struggled significantly, scoring only one goal in 16 appearances, which led to a decline in his reputation.

In 2011, Ronaldinho signed a four-year contract with Flamengo. In his first season, he scored 16 goals in 33 matches. Due to the club’s financial crisis and unpaid wages, he terminated his contract and became a free agent. In 2012, he joined another Brazilian club, Atlético Mineiro, where he quickly proved his quality once again, scoring 24 goals in 63 matches.

Ronaldinho has a son, João de Assis Moreira, born on February 25, 2005, from his relationship with Brazilian dancer Janaína Mendes. In 2007, Ronaldinho acquired Spanish citizenship.

On February 3, 2017, Ronaldinho officially announced his retirement from professional football. On March 22, 2018, he stated that he was preparing to enter politics and expressed his intention to run in the October 2018 elections, aiming to become a member of either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies. In July 2019, due to unpaid taxes and fines, authorities confiscated 57 properties belonging to him, along with his Brazilian and Spanish passports. In March 2020, Ronaldinho was questioned by police in Paraguay after allegedly entering the country with a fake passport. He was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison for passport fraud. After approximately one month in prison, he paid a 1.6 million dollar bail and was released on April 7, 2020, with his sentence converted to house arrest for both himself and his brother.

Achievements

Clubs:
2004–2005 Spanish League Champion

National Team:
2002 FIFA World Cup Champion
1999 Copa América Champion
1997 FIFA Under-17 World Champion

Individual:
2004 FIFA World Player of the Year Award
1997 FIFA Under-17 World Championship Top Scorer

Youth Career:
1987–1998 – Grêmio

Professional Club Career:
1998–2001 – Grêmio
2001–2003 – Paris Saint-Germain
2003–2008 – Barcelona
2008–2011 – Milan
2011–2012 – Flamengo
2012–2014 – Atlético Mineiro
2014–2015 – Querétaro
2015–2015 – Fluminense

National Team Career:
1996 – Brazil U-17
1999 – Brazil U-20
1999–2005 – Brazil U-23
1999–2013 – Brazil

Source: Biyografiler.com