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Jalen R. James

Ms.Records

English III

16 May 2017

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho is one of the best soccer players in the world with an interesting early life,

good career, and many achievements and accomplishments. Ronaldinho had an interesting

early life starting with his childhood. Ronaldo De Assis Moreira, Ronaldinho was born on

march 21, 1980.(ESPN) His father was Joao de Assis Moreira and his mother was Dona

Miguelina Eloi Assis dos Santos. His father was a shipyard worker and a professional soccer

player for a local soccer club. His mother was a cosmetic salesperson who later became a nurse.

(Ronaldinho) Ronaldinho inherited his fathers passion for soccer and started playing football as

a small child. Unfortunately, his father who he looked up to and cherished died of a heart attack

when Ronaldinho was eight years old. Ronaldinho idolized his father. He was one of the most

important and influential people for me and in my life. He gave me some of the best advice I

have ever had. Off the field: Do what is right and be an honest, straight up guy.(ESPN) And

on the field: Play soccer as simply as possible. He always said one of the most complicated

things you can do is to play soccer simple. Ronaldinho has been around soccer since the day he

was born. He began playing soccer at the age of seven, and it was as a youth soccer player when

he first received the nickname of Ronaldinho the diminutive form of his birth name, Ronaldo.

Ronaldinho rapidly developed into one of Brazils most talented youth soccer players.

When he was 13 years old, he once scored a bizarre 23 soccer goals in a single game. While

leading his team to a variety of junior championships, Ronaldinho immersed himself in Brazils
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soccer history, by studying past soccer greats such as Pel, and Rivelino.(Ronaldinho) He

dreamed of someday following in their footsteps. Then, in 1997, as a teenager Ronaldinho won a

call-up to Brazils Under-17 national team. The Brazil national team went on to win the FIFA

Under-17 World Championship in Egypt, and Ronaldinho was selected as the tournaments best

player. (Long) Soon afterward, Ronaldinho signed his first professional soccer contract to play

for Grmio, one of the most celebrated and decorated teams in the Brazilian league.

Ronaldinho signed his first professional soccer contract to play for Grmio and made his senior

side debut during the 1998 Copa Libertadores. (Long) He achieved much success playing for the

team and helped them win the inaugural Copa Sul-Minas.

Brazil came in a second-place finish that year, and Ronaldinho won the Golden Ball Award as the

tournaments most valuable player, and the Golden Boot Award as the leading goal scorer of the

game. He established himself firmly as a star on the international stage, in 2001 Ronaldinho left

Brazil for Europe, signing a contract to play for Paris Saint-Germain in France. (Long) One year

later, he participated in his first World Cup on a talented Brazilian squad. Ronaldinho scored two

goals in five matches, including the game-winner in a quarter-final victory over England, and

Brazil went on to defeat Germany in the finals and claim their fifth World Cup title.

(Ronaldinho)

He was a part of the Brazils football team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2002.

Ronaldinho won his first league title in 200405, and was named FIFA World Player of the year

in December 2004. (ESPN) His fame was growing with his amusing and productive play in both

the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

He also led his Barcelona team to the greatest of club success in 2006 with a triumphant run

through the prestigious Champions League tournament. The following month, Ronaldinho
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headlined a very loaded Brazilian squad that entered the World Cup with really high

expectations. The tournament ended in disappointment for the defending champs, though, as

France defeated Brazil out with a stunning upset in the quarter-finals. (Ronaldinho)

Overall Ronaldinho enjoyed a very successful career with Barcelona and played his 200th

career match for the team in a league match against Osasuna in February 2008. However, he was

injured for most of the 2007-08 season. (Ronaldinho)

In 2008, Ronaldinho left the Barcelona soccer club to join another one of the worlds

most renowned clubs, A.C. Milan, but his performance for the Italian soccer club giant was

mostly dull and unmemorable. (Long) Underscoring his fading status, the former World Player of

the Year was not included in the 2010 Brazilian team that competed in the World Cup in South

Africa. In 2011, Ronaldinho returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro. The

relationship between the club and its most prominent and prestigious player got off to a great

start when Flamengo won the 2011 Campeonato Carioca, but things turned sour by the following

season.

Ronaldinho moved to Atltico Mineiro in June 2012, signing a six-month contract. In

2013, he helped the team win Campeonato Mineiro and led the club to its first ever title of the

Copa Libertadores. (ESPN) Following his successful participation with the team, he renewed his

contract agreement in January 2014 and played for the club till July 2014.

The following year, Ronaldinho helped Atltico win the Campeonato Mineiro and led the club to

its first title of the Copa Libertadores. (Ronaldinho)

In July 2015, Ronaldinho announced his return to Brazil and signed an 18-month contract

with Fluminense, but on 28 September, Ronaldinho reached an agreement with the club to
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terminate the deal. (Long) Ronaldinho is regarded as one of the greatest and most skillful players

of his

generation. Due to his ability to score and create goals, uninhibited playmaker, large repertoire of

crafty moves, and many awards and achievements has proven that. Ronaldinho is one of the best

soccer players of all time and his gift and talent has changed the game of soccer forever.

Works Cited

Long read: Ronaldinho How the godfather of flair changed football forever.

FourFourTwo, https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/long-read-ronaldinho-how-
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godfather-flair-changed-football-forever. Accessed 11 Apr. 2017.

Ronaldinho. Biography, http://www.biography.com/people/ronaldinho-16636081.

Accessed 11 Apr. 2017.

Ronaldinho Player Profile - ESPN FC. http://www.espnfc.us/player/20128/ronaldinho.

Accessed 11 Apr. 2017.