4 Facts You Didn’t Know about Ronaldinho

Born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, this attacking midfielder – best known by his famous nickname, Ronaldinho – has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest and most skillful soccer players of all time!

Here are four facts you didn’t know about this Brazilian icon:

A Star is Born

At the age of eight – when he began his youth career at Gremio in Port Alegre – he was nicknamed “Ronaldinho”, a diminutive form of his first name, because he was often the youngest and smallest player in his matches. It also distinguished him from fellow Brazilian footballer, Ronaldo.

Goal Machine

Ronaldinho’s impressive skills gained him attention at the age of 13, when he led Gremio to a whopping 23-0 victory over a local team – he scored all 23 goals during the match!

Brazilian Pride

A 19-year-old Ronaldinho debuted for the Brazilian national soccer team in 1999. By the time he finished his national stint in 2013, he had played 97 matches and scored 33 goals overall.

Going for Gold

Between 2003 and 2008, Ronaldinho played for FC Barcelona. He helped the Spanish club win the La Liga championship in 2005 and 2006, as well as the UEFA Champions League title in 2006. Additionally, his stint at Barcelona helped him win the coveted Ballon d’Or award in 2005.

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