da casino： GOAL looks back at the attacker's rise and how he captured the hearts of all who watched him
da bet sport： If there was a word to describe Ronaldinho, it would probably be magic. It's the best way to explain the things he could create on a football field. When the ball was at his feet, when every eye in the stadium was watching him, the Brazilian did things that just didn't feel possible.
It's what made him so beloved, after all. People don't love Ronaldinho for the goals he scores or even the trophies he won. Instead, they remember him for how they made them feel. They remember him for his big smile, his childlike wonderment and his ability to create memories with a few kicks of the ball.
He made plenty of those memories, from Brazil to France, Spain, Italy and back, to solidify his place among the best to ever do it. To coincide with the release of his Future Stars Icon card on EA Sports FC24 on PlayStation 5, GOAL takes a look back at the Brazilian's journey and how he went from Future Star to ICON…
GettyWhere it all began
He's known as Ronaldinho, but he was born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira in Porto Alegre on March 21, 1980. When his older brother, Roberto, signed with Gremio, Ronaldinho soon followed, earning his famous nickname for being the youngest and smallest player starring in his youth matches.
His first headlines came at age 13, when he famously scored all 23 goals in a 23-0 win over a local team. As a youngster, he idolized the likes of Diego Maradona, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, and it wasn't long before he himself was starring for club and country just as they did. In 1999, he scored 22 goals in 47 matches for Gremio at the age of 18 while famously embarrassing Brazilian legend Dunga with a flick over his head to announce his arrival in his home country.
The national team to take notice, too, as Ronaldinho featured for Brazil at the 1999 Copa America and Confederations Cup. Soon, all of Europe would turn their gaze toward the next Brazilian starlet, who looked destined to reach the highest of highs.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesThe big break
Paris Saint-Germain, ultimately, won the race to sign the soon-to-be icon, sealing a transfer to bring Ronaldinho to the Parc des Princes. In his move to Paris, Ronaldinho joined future FUT HERO Jay-Jay Okocha in the PSG squad, giving the team two of the most elite dribblers that the game has ever seen. He spent just two seasons in France, scoring 25 goals in 77 games.
His most notable moments during that time, though, came with Brazil as Ronaldinho joined the likes of Ronaldo and Rivaldo in leading Brazil to the country's fifth World Cup in 2002. His big moment came in the quarter-final when he helped lead a comeback against England with an assist and then a stunning free kick from 40 yards out, setting the stage for Brazil's inevitable triumph.
In 2003, Barcelona came calling, giving Ronaldinho the stage to become one of the game's all-time greats.
GettyBecoming an ICON
The world knows what happens next. After signing for Barcelona, Ronaldinho quickly established himself as one of the game's true greats, winning the UEFA World Player of the Year award in his second season while guiding Barca to the 2004-05 league title.
His next season was arguably his most dominant as, with Ronaldinho leading the way, Barcelona won a famous double by claiming La Liga alongside the club's first Champions League crown in 14 years. He won the Ballon d'Or that season, cementing himself among the greats he grew up idolizing.
Eventually, Ronaldinho turned mentor, helping usher in the Lionel Messi era before departing for AC Milan in 2008. He won a Scudetto during his time in Milan before leaving in 2011, going on to spend the final years of his career with Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro and Fluminense before calling it a career in 2015.
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
If you've ever seen Ronaldinho play, you know exactly what he's about. Few who have ever played have had better control of the ball, and few have ever been able to make it do such amazing things when it was sat at their feet.
Ronaldinho could create and score goals, yes, but it's what he did before those sequences that often got fans out of their seats. The Brazilian was a true magician, one blessed with pace, athleticism and a control over the ball that was unrivaled. If there was a skill out there, Ronaldinho could do it, and not just on the training pitch but against some of the best defenders in the world.
The goal return is impressive, yes, as are the accolades, but Ronaldinho's biggest contributions will be those moments where he did things that no one else would even dream of doing.