[13] Ronaldinho was identified as a rising star at the 1997 U-17 World Championship in Egypt, in which he scored two goals on penalty kicks. ", "Ronaldinho was responsible for the change in Barça. [175][176][177] His versatility and prowess from set pieces made him one of the most prolific free kick takers in history,[178] and also influenced his former teammate Messi, who went on to become a free kick specialist himself. [180][181][182][183] Among his repertoire of moves, is the "elastico", a move he learned by watching videos of one of his idols, the 1970s Brazilian star Rivelino. He then returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo in 2011 and Atlético Mineiro a year later where he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores, before moving to Mexico to play for Querétaro and then back to Brazil to play for Fluminense in 2015. CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, Nemésio, A.; Ferrari, R.R. He converted a penalty kick in a 3–2 semi-final win against host Germany and was named Man of the Match in a 4–1 victory over archrival Argentina in the final on 29 June. I want to play again, "NEWSMAKER-Ronaldinho, the catalyst of Barcelona's revival", "VIDEO: Samba skills from Ronaldinho with the Barça Legends", "Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball", "Why is scoring from free kicks on the rise? [94], At the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup held in Morocco in December, Atlético lost 3–1 to Raja Casablanca in the semi-final, with Ronaldinho scoring from a free-kick. [105] All of the spectators, mostly consisting of América supporters, gave a standing ovation to Ronaldinho after his goals had brought him to tears. They transformed themselves in adversity. [210] Ronaldinho and his brother would ultimately fail to pay the fines within the allotted time and have their passports suspended. [82], Ronaldinho finished the season as the assists leader of Serie A. [69][70] On 19 May 2008, Barcelona club president Joan Laporta stated that Ronaldinho needed a "new challenge", claiming that he needed a new club if he were to revive his career.[71]. [43][44] His scooped pass set up the winning goal for Xavi away to Real Madrid on 25 April 2004, the club's first win at the Bernabéu in seven years, a result Xavi credits as the start of "the Barcelona rise. David Goldblatt (2009). [8], The following year, Ronaldinho helped Atlético win the Campeonato Mineiro and led the club to its first Copa Libertadores title. On 3 July, two days after Brazil's elimination, vandals immolated and destroyed a 23-foot (7.5-metre) tall fiberglass and resin statue of Ronaldinho in Chapecó. [68] Having been a model professional and devoted himself to training during his hugely successful first three seasons at Barcelona, Ronaldinho's partying lifestyle and lack of dedication to training saw his physical condition decline, with many at the club believing he was already below his prime. "Ronaldinho: Football's Flamboyant Maestro". In September 2005, he signed a two-year extension that contained a minimum-fee release clause that allowed him to leave should a club make an offer to Barcelona of at least £85 million for him. Laporta reveals the then-Portuguese youngster was offered to the Catalan giants in 2003, the same year he agreed to a move to Old Trafford. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane, 156 stars wish Maradona happy birthday. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980), commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu gaˈuʃu]) or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and current ambassador for Barcelona. [29] Ronaldinho spent the majority of the first few months of the 2001–02 season alternated between the bench and starter's role. [108] On 17 May 2015, Querétaro progressed to the semi-finals after defeating Veracruz 4–3 aggregate. ''ReNo9Prod'' brings to you new compilation about Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Neymar Jr Ronaldinho Pogba Best Commercial Compilation! p. 172. Ronaldinho returned from injury and scored 15 goals in La Liga during the 2003–04 season, helping the team ultimately finish second in the league. ", "When you play with him and see what he does with a ball, nothing surprises me any more. [23] Ronaldinho achieved further success with Grêmio, winning the inaugural Copa Sul. [146] Ronaldinho captained the team, and he scored his only two goals in a 5–0 victory over New Zealand before Brazil were beaten by Argentina in the semi-final. The first goal was a free kick, which curled past numerous Marseille players in the 18-yard box before sailing past goalkeeper Vedran Runje. –) világbajnok brazil válogatott labdarúgó. Brazil went on to win the match with a goal from Marcelo. [112] He made nine appearances during his two-month stint at the club, failing to impress and being heavily criticized by the fans. [199] Ronaldinho has had an official role with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, since February 2006. [116], From September to early October 2017, Ronaldinho joined the Delhi Dragons from Delhi in the Premier Futsal League. Ronaldinho lifted his first trophy with Flamengo after curling in a right-footed shot over the wall in the 71st minute at Engenhão stadium. [73] It was a sad moment for him and he later said in an interview that he regretted leaving without playing long enough with Messi. [187] Former Portugal midfield playmaker Rui Costa has said of his vision and passing ability: "There are not many players who can offer goal-scoring passes like he can. [156] Ronaldinho started in what was his 100th cap (including non-official matches), and had a chance to score from the penalty kick, but his shot was saved by Joe Hart. [41] Ronaldinho suffered from injury during the first half of the campaign,[42] and Barcelona slumped to 12th in the league standings midway through the season. Human highlight reel Ronaldinho was more talented than both", "Why Ronaldinho – football's great libertine – should be considered the best player ever over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo", "Ronaldinho: One of the greatest entertainers of all time", "Ronaldinho, sei un "trecante" Praticamente un nove e mezzo", "Ronaldinho deserves FIFA player of the year", "Ronaldinho the boy genius grows into a full-scale marvel", "Bruised Feelings and a Shaky Knee for F.C. [55] Two weeks earlier, Barcelona had clinched their second-straight La Liga title with a 1–0 win over Celta de Vigo, giving Ronaldinho his first career double. In his second season with Barcelona, he won his first FIFA World Player of the Year award as Barcelona won the 2004–05 La Liga title. ", "He transmits a lot of joy and pleasure playing the game, and he has individual skills that are of such a high level that everybody in the world adores him. In 2019, FourFourTwo described him as "possibly the best technician in the history of football in Brazil," placing him at number five in their list of "The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years. He scored early in the game at the San Siro to give Milan the lead. Thus it would be unfair to criticise the transfer activity of the two European giants. On 26 October 2002, he scored two goals in PSG's 3–1 victory over Classique rivals Marseille. [160][161][162][163][164] Due to his ability to score and create goals, he was capable of playing in several offensive positions, on either wing or in a free central role. [117], On 16 January 2018, Ronaldinho confirmed his retirement from football through his brother/agent: "He has stopped, it is ended. They are playing in different role and position, and they are totally different type of players so its hard to compare, but for me they are all among top 5 players since Maradona (Messi, two Ronaldo, Zidane, Ronaldinho). [8][169] With his pace, acceleration, athleticism, balance, ball control, and dribbling ability, he was capable of beating players when undertaking individual runs, often using an array of tricks and feints to get past opponents in one on one situations, including step overs and nutmegs. Ronaldo did the same with Man United in 2008, while also winning his first Ballon d'Or title that very season. In a Round of 16 match against Guingamp, Ronaldinho scored two second half goals in the game after having entered the match as a half-time substitute. They became possessed, and furious. by BeSoccer @besoccer_com - 30 Oct 2020 0 2,645. [154], Ronaldinho's good form continued in 2013, and in January he was unexpectedly called up by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari[155] for a friendly against England played on 6 February at Wembley Stadium as part of The Football Association (FA)'s 150th anniversary. Brazil international legend Ronaldinho has shown the world how kind he can be to his fellow peers, by giving Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo exclusive presents on their birthday. Juventus team news for Coppa Italia fixture, Lionel Messi named Playmaker of the Decade, Cristiano Ronaldo fails to make cut, Cristiano Ronaldo produces gravity-defying leap vs Sassuolo, leaves fans stunned: WATCH, How to watch Spanish Super Cup live in India? He was greeted by more than 20,000 fans at his unveiling at his new club on 13 January 2011. Zidane is definitely comparable to L.Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, in terms of their peak and overall achievements. Ronaldinho joined Barca as a toothy-grinned wizard who had the club under his spell for three glorious seasons. Brazil lost the match 1–2. ", "Dieci cose su Ronnie Da Little Italy in poi", "The Dying Dream of Ronaldinho: Brazil's Childlike Genius Who Never Grew Up", "Noughty Boys: Ronaldinho was a magician, we just stood there gawping", "Ronaldinho: I was about to join Manchester United; how I lobbed David Seaman; I was good for Messi", "Ronaldinho Gaúcho fala sobre seu filho pela primeira vez", "Brazil World Cup winner Ronaldinho joins evangelical conservative party", "Ronaldinho endorses far-right Brazil presidential candidate", "10 Great Moments from Ronaldinho's Paris Saint-Germain Career", "Paris Saint-Germain – Olympique Lyonnais", "Ronaldinho debuts for Barca in friendly", "Ronaldinho out scoring til the small hours", "Ronaldinho – How the godfather of flair changed football forever", "Messi Has All the Qualities to Take World by Storm", "Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 3: Bernabeu forced to pay homage as Ronaldinho soars above the galacticos", "Ronaldinho lets the ball do the talking", "Ronaldinho's overhead kick against Villarreal (2006/07)", "Ronaldinho fulfils boyhood dream with overhead goal", "Soccer: Ronaldinho turns on style as Barcelona beat Club America 4–0", "Cannavaro & Ronaldinho: We already feel like winners", "Ronaldinho from hero to zero at Nou Camp", "Analysis: Milan party's over as Ronaldinho trudges home", "Friday afternoon question: Will Ronaldinho leave Barcelona? [56], Throughout the season, Ronaldinho linked up with prolific Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o in attack, providing a number of assists to the 34 goal striker; Ronaldinho's pass also put Eto'o through on goal in the Champions League Final from which he was brought down by Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann who was sent off. [63], The next day, Ronaldinho finished third in the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year, behind 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Zinedine Zidane. [166][172][173] Although he was primarily known for his ability to bend the ball from set pieces,[174] he was also capable of striking the ball with power underneath the wall, and also occasionally used the knuckleball technique, which was popularised by his compatriot Juninho Pernambucano. [211], In March 2020, he was questioned by police in Paraguay after he was alleged to have used a fake passport to enter the country while coming for a charity event and book promotion,[212] with Ronaldinho and his brother both being held in custody in the country. After scoring his first goal in the 22nd minute, Ronaldinho capped the game in the 81st minute, accurately chipping the ball at the 18-yard box over the head of goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé, despite Ramé being in a favorable position. Ronaldinho ended the Serie A campaign scoring two goals against Juventus; Luca Antonini opened the scoring and Milan went on to win 3–0 in Leonardo's last game in charge. [46] His domination as the world's best footballer was undisputed as he also won the prestigious Ballon d'Or for the only time in his career. Ronaldinho left at 11 am the next morning, allegedly in the trunk of a car in order to avoid the media. [179], Throughout his career, Ronaldinho was praised by pundits in particular for his technical skills, flair, and creativity, as well as his exceptional first touch. The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list", "The utterly beguiling genius of Ronaldinho", "Ronaldinho sips Pepsi, loses Coca-Cola deal", "A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament – every touch counts", "Nike "Writes the Future" – Just In Time For The World Cup", "Ronaldinho wax figure arrives Hong Kong (, "Soccer great Ronaldinho aims to score goals in UN campaign against AIDS", "Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes Shakira as Facebook's most 'liked' person", "Ronaldinho Named Barcelona Ambassador: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction", "Everything you need to know about Ronaldinho's cryptocurrency", "Barcelona and Brazil legend Ronaldinho tests positive for coronavirus", "Football: Ronaldinho expresses support for Azerbaijan", "Ronaldinho: Ex-Brazil and Barcelona star has property seized over unpaid fines", "Brazilian judge lifts Ronaldinho travel ban – Xinhua | English.news.cn", "Ronaldinho, Brother Not To Face Prosecution For Fake Passports", "Ronaldinho held over fake passport claims", "Jailed Ronaldinho facing multiple issues off the pitch", "Ronaldinho loses appeal for release from house arrest", "Ronaldinho's Prison Team Win Futsal Tournament And Suckling Pig", "Ronaldinho set for release after bizarre six-month stay in Paraguay penal system", "Paraguayan judge releases Ronaldinho after five months – Taipei Times", "Ronaldinho wari ufungishijwe ijisho muri Paraguay yarekuwe", "South American U-17 Championship 1997 (Paraguay)", "Mundialito u-20 Álvaro Fabián Perea Berrospe 1998", "World Youth Cup (U-20) 1999 (Nigeria, April 3-24)", "Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 1996–1999", "Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 2000–2003", "Seleção Brasileira Restritiva (Brazilian National Restrictive Team) 2004–2012", "Ronaldo de Assis Moreira "Ronaldinho" – Goals in International Matches", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 1998–1999", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2000–2001", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2002–2003", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2004–2005", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2006–2007", "Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2010–2011", "Ronaldinho backs Napoli to stop Juventus' Serie A dominance", "Ronaldinho Announces His Retirement; Why He Is One Of Soccer's All-Time Greats", "Rio Grande do Sul -- List of State Topscorers", "Palmarès Trophées UNFP – Oscars du football – " Le plus beau but de Ligue 1 " (vote du public)", "Ronaldinho gana el trofeo EFE a falta de un jornada para el final", "FIFA Awards, World Player of the Year Top 10", "FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005 | Awards", "RONALDINHO VOTED FIFPRO WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR AGAIN", "Spanish Primera División Scoring Stats - 2005-06", "UEFA Champions League 2005/06 – History – Statistics – UEFA.com", "Winners of all time | Golden Foot Award Monaco", "2000s: The Decade in Sports; All-Decade Team: Soccer", "Italian Serie A Scoring Stats - 2009-10", "Os eleitos do Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão! Retrieved 8 May 2014. "Ronaldinho Gaucho" redirects here. [27] Upon his arrival in Paris, Ronaldinho was given the number 21 shirt and inserted into a lineup that included fellow Brazilian Aloísio, midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha and striker Nicolas Anelka. The goal gave Flamengo its 19th Taça Guanabara title, which earned the Campeonato Carioca title two months later, as the team also won the Taça Rio. Brazil finished with the bronze medal after defeating Belgium 3–0 in the bronze medal match. [80], On 10 January 2010, Ronaldinho scored two goals against Juventus in an away match, sealing a 3–0 victory for the Rossoneri. [114] After two games, he left India to be an ambassador of the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. [193] At the beginning of his career Ronaldinho signed a lucrative 10-year deal with sportswear company Nike (wearing Nike Tiempo R10 boots designed for him). His talent though has never been in question. In its 2013 ceremonies, a Bola de Ouro was given to Dirceu Lopes, holder of the best 1971 grade. Up to 156 celebrities have taken part in an extensive video to congratulate Diego Armando Maradona on his 60th birthday. [147], Despite having returned to good form and being named as a member of the 30-man provisional squad that was submitted to FIFA on 11 May 2010,[148] he was not named in coach Dunga's final squad of 23 for the Brazilian squad in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup[149] despite his deep desire to participate in the competition. At age 20, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in France before signing for Barcelona in 2003. That's not something you say about a player of his calibre. In his international career with Brazil, Ronaldinho earned 97 caps and scored 33 goals and represented his country in two FIFA World Cups. "The Football Book". Today, any discussion on the greatest player in football history always ends at Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.Their long prime having earned them that reputation. It was in their new home where his father hit his head and drowned in the swimming pool when Ronaldo was eight. [8][11][166][174] Physically strong in possession of the ball, Richard Williams writes "slender in build, the Brazilian has a strength belying the cartoonish smile". [22], Despite repeated rifts with Fernández, Ronaldinho returned to the team for the 2002–03 season, with the player switching to the number 10 shirt. In the return match, he again scored in PSG's 3–0 victory at the Stade Vélodrome, running half the length of the field before flicking the ball over the goalkeeper. It is something that makes me like Mexico even more and I feel right at home. Milan ended up losing the game 3–2, with a goal from Paul Scholes and two goals from Wayne Rooney. He was included in the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFA World XI three times each, and was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for the 2005–06 season and South American Footballer of the Year in 2013. [215] He attempted to appeal the detention order but was ordered to remain under house arrest with his brother. "[205][206], On 25 October 2020, Ronaldinho announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was asymptomatic and self-isolating in Belo Horizonte. [57] Ronaldinho finished the season with a career-best 26 goals, including seventeen in La Liga and seven in the Champions League, and was chosen for the UEFA Team of the Year for the third consecutive time and was named the 2005–06 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. [213][214] While in prison, he competed in a prison futsal tournament, where his team was victorious. [83], During the first half of the season, Ronaldinho was part of the team's attack that also included two new signings, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Robinho. [53], The season is considered one of the best in Ronaldinho's career as he was an instrumental part of Barcelona's first Champions League title in 14 years. After winning their group convincingly, Barcelona faced Chelsea in the round of 16 for a rematch of the previous year. Ronaldo did the same with Man United in 2008, while also winning his first Ballon d'Or title that very season. Ronaldinho was born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. ", "Conheça os grandes vencedores do futebol brasileiro", "Ronaldinho coroa retorno ao Brasil com 2ª Bola de Prata da carreira e diz: quer ficar no Fla", "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: 8–18 December 2016: Statistical kit", "South American Coach and Player of the Year", "Ultimate Team of the Year: The All-Time XI", "A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Ronaldo De Assis Moreira (Ronaldinho)", "The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas", European Champions Cup/UEFA Champions League Winning Squads, 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year, 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year, La Liga Foreign Player of the Year - Don Balón Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronaldinho&oldid=1012664182, Brazil under-20 international footballers, Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in France, Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain, Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy, Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Mexico, Outfield association footballers who played in goal, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using Template:Medal with Winner, Articles using Template:Medal with Runner-up, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with Portuguese-language sources (pt), Articles with Italian-language sources (it), Pages using national squad without sport or team link, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only, This page was last edited on 17 March 2021, at 17:03. [37][38], The club where he would spend his peak years and the basis of his global fame,[39] Ronaldinho made his Barcelona debut in a friendly against Juventus at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 27 July, with coach Frank Rijkaard stating post match, "He has something special every time he touches the ball. [84], After being heavily linked with a move back to his childhood club Grêmio, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo on 11 January 2011 with a contract ending in 2014. He scored a 93rd-minute match-winner against Braga in the UEFA Cup group stage on 6 November. "[52], — Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard on Ronaldinho during the 2005–06 season. Në Brazil ai emërohet për shkak të prejardhjës nga Rio Grande do Sul Ronaldinho Gaúcho, për të dalluar nga kolegu i tij më i vjetër Ronaldo. Still, Roberto's career was ultimately cut short by injury. Ronaldinho and Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi each captained a team of international stars in an anti-racism exhibition match in Venezuela on 28 June, which ended in a 7–7 draw. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder, but was also deployed as a winger. [138], The team was harshly criticized by Brazilian fans and media following their return home. He is just marvellous. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980), commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu gaˈuʃu]) or simply Ronaldinho,[note 1] is a Brazilian former professional footballer and current ambassador for Barcelona. Ronaldinho finished with a pair of goals and two assists in what would be his last match as a Barcelona player. "[8], On 24 March 2007, Ronaldinho scored twice in a 4–0 win over Chile, which marked his first goal since the 2005 Confederations Cup final and thus ended a scoreless streak that lasted nearly two years. Ronaldo de Assis Moreira was born on 21 March 1980 in the city of Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Ronaldinho was born “Ronaldo de Assis Moreira” to parents Dona Miguelina Elói Assis dos Santoson (Mother) and João de Assis Moreira (Father) on 21st March 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. [115] He was replaced by Cafu. 2020 was a tough year for Ronaldinho. [135] Ronaldinho scored three goals in the tournament and is tied with Mexican forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the tournament's all-time scorer with nine goals. He wore number 49 in reference to his mother's birth year since his preferred number 10 was already assigned to Guilherme in the 2012 season. [137] However, deemed "top heavy and unbalanced", the team finished with only six goals in five games, with Ronaldinho himself going scoreless and finishing with only one assist (for Gilberto's goal in a 4–1 group stage victory over Japan), as he turned in his worst collective performance in his international career. He was at Sporting at the time. [151] At the tournament, Brazil was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-final. [109] Querétaro eventually advanced to the final after beating Pachuca on aggregate 2–2. ", On 1 May 2005, Ronaldinho made the assist for Lionel Messi's first goal for Barcelona, executing a scooped pass over the Albacete defence for Messi to finish. [207] A few days later, on 29 October 2020, Ronaldinho released a statement regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan. "[106][107], Ronaldinho scored two penalties in consecutive matches, the second giving Querétaro the classification to the Liga MX playoffs. p. 123. On a less positive note, however, he missed three penalties in the domestic season to add to one botched kick the previous season. [7] After Ronaldo's older brother Roberto signed with Grêmio, the family moved to a home in the more affluent Guarujá section of Porto Alegre, which was a gift from Grêmio to convince Roberto to stay at the club. [127] The World Cup was held in South Korea and Japan, and Ronaldinho appeared in five matches during the tournament and scored two goals, as well as contributing with three assists. He won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year in September 2005, in addition to being included in the 2005 FIFPro World XI, and being named the 2005 European Footballer of the Year. [75][76][77][78] With the number 10 already occupied by teammate Clarence Seedorf, he selected 80 as his jersey number. [26], Ronaldinho was also praised for his performance in the Coupe de France when he scored both goals in the club's 2–0 win over Bordeaux in the semi-finals, which inserted PSG into the final. [1][4] His mother, Miguelina Elói Assis dos Santos,[5] was a salesperson who studied to become a nurse. Ronaldinho made his career debut for Grêmio, in 1998. p. 54. [25], In 2001, Ronaldinho signed a five-year contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain in a €5 million transfer. [47], "It's like someone pressed pause and for three seconds all the players stopped and I'm the only one that moves. He then had solid performances in back to back friendlies against Argentina in the same month. [140] The statue had been erected in 2004 to celebrate his first FIFA World Player of the Year award. She had been battling Covid-19 in hospital in Brazil since December. "[186] In 2010, his former Barcelona teammate, Edgar Davids, said of him: "For the skills and tricks, Ronaldinho was the best player that I ever played with. "Marquez's people proposed Cristiano Ronaldo to us. [200] In 2011, he was recruited by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to promote awareness among young people of the disease and how to avoid it. He will leave a rather forlorn figure. Also Read | Cristiano Ronaldo produces gravity-defying leap vs Sassuolo, leaves fans stunned: WATCH. "[191] In 2006, Richard Williams of The Guardian described Ronaldinho as a "genius," while his former Barcelona teammate Sylvinho said of him: "He's so smart, so intelligent, that sometimes it's difficult to read his mind," also adding: "He's amazing. They won 11–2 in the finals, with Ronaldinho scoring 5 goals and assisting the other 6. [81] The Estado De São Paulo newspaper declared, "Ronaldinho revives his golden years. Despite Ronaldinho's initial success with the club, the season was marred by controversy with Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Fernández, claiming that the Brazilian was too focused on the Parisian nightlife rather than football, and complained that his holidays in Brazil never ended at the scheduled times.