Ronaldinho

Biography

Ronaldinho played football like a kid in a playground, which was precisely why adults couldn't stop watching. The elasticos, the no-look passes, the free kicks that bent like bananas - it was all delivered with a smile that suggested he couldn't believe he was getting paid for this. The peak at Barcelona, particularly the 2005-06 season, was magic: Champions League glory and the Ballon d'Or. He made the Bernabéu stand and applaud - Real Madrid fans cheering a Barcelona player. But the party lifestyle caught up with him. By his late 20s, the magic had dimmed, the nightclubs winning their battle against the training ground. What remained was the memory of those years when he was unplayable and joyful, the purest expression of why football is called the beautiful game.

Career Highlights

• 1 FIFA World Cup (2002)
• 1 Ballon d'Or (2005)
• 2 FIFA World Player of the Year
• 1 UEFA Champions League
• 2 La Liga titles

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