Profile
Name: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
Birth Date: 21/03/1980
Birth Place: Porto Alegre
Nationality: Brazilian
Height: 180cm
Weight: 80kg
Position: Forward
Club Number: 10
Number of Caps: 70 (16 goals)
Ronaldinho was born into a family of football addicts, living in a wooden house in the heart of a favela. His father, Joao da Silva Moreira who played for an amateur club made ends meet by by working as a car park attendant at Gremio Football Club. His brother Roberto was a great hope for the club but then his career was unfortunately ended by a terrible knee injury.
At the age of 8, tregedy struck as Ronaldinho’s father drowned in a swiming pool at a villa provided by Gremio for Roberto. Following in the footsteps of his brother Ronnie then joined the Gremio’s footballing school and wowed everyone there. He made it into the first team in 1997 and was being heralded as one of the best young hopes in Brazilan football. Meanwhile, he was already making the breakthrough with the national squad, and his six goals were fundamental in Brazil’s Copa America triumph in 1999. The goal Ronaldinho scored against Venezuela is remembered to this day as one of the most spectacular ever scored by a player wearing the famous Canarinha jersey.
In 2001, Ronaldinho moved on to PSG where he became a fan’s favourite with his tremendous flair and excting style of football - also contributing tremendous amounts of goals. However his employer’s still weren’t happy with his atitude and looked ot get rid of him. Of course, he continued to shine in the international arena. His finest hour came at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, where he was a key member of the side that won Brazil’s record fifth world title - scoring in the quarter final and playing an integral role in midfield in the final.
Ronaldinho then moved to Barcelona - arguably the biggest club in the world - for what now seems a bargain at £21,000,000. When he arrived, he said that his desire was to bring as much success to the club as so many Brazilians had done before him, such as Evaristo, Ronaldo, Romario and Rivaldo. Having won the World Footballer of the Year title it seems he has now fulfilled that desire.
Honours:
Brazil
2001-02 World Cup
1998-99 Copa America
1996-97 Under 17 World Cup
Gremio (Porto Alegre)
1999 Sul Cup
Facts about Ronaldinho: (THANKS TO BRASILANBOY09!)
* Ídol: His Brother Roberto. Also Valdo, Rivaldo, Rivelino, Zico, Diego Armando Maradona, Romario and Ronaldo.
* Ídol from Another Sport: Michael Jordan.
* Hobbies: His love is Football, His other favourite hobbies include listening to music, reading, singing, dancing and playing percussion instruments. He has a Karaoke machine in his house.
* Television Programme: Likes to play Pro Evolution Soccer on the PS2, his favorite video game.
* Favorite food: Churrasco (Brazilian Barbeque)
* Dessert: Candy, like Chocolate.
* Type of Girl: Intelligent.
* Person who he’d most like to meet: Michael Jordan.
* Type of Music: Samba and pagode. He also listens to music in English to learn some words
* Movie he’d like to be in: A Comedy Movie so he could make people laugh. He likes to tell lots of jokes.
* People he Admires: His family, his fans.
* Religion: Catholic (doesnt practice).
* Favorite Clothes: Jeans and Shirt.
* Trainer: Frank Rijkaard.
* Goal: The one he scored against Sevilla in the Nou Camp
* Phrase: Vencer, sempre vencer. “Keep on winning.”
* Dream: To Win titles.
* City: Barcelona. Quite a Brazilian-type city and he likes it alot. He feels it’s the European equivalent to Brazil.
* Friends: Anderson Varejao, Thiery Henry, Roberto Carlos, Sandro Rosell, David Trezeguet, Ronaldo, Ramon Ros, Pepe Costa, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández, Rafael Márquez, Edmílson, Juliano Belletti, Thiago Motta, Deco, Sylvinho, Robinho and Cafú.
* Sport he follows (besides football): Basketball.
* Words in Cataluna that he knows: Adéu (bye), siusplau (please), una miqueta (a little bit), tanca la boca (close your mouth (shut up) the numbers 1 through 10.
* Favourite Group: Fundo de Quintal.
* Favourite Singer: Jorge Aragão.
* Cars: BMW X5 black, Seat Color White.
* Perfume: Fahrenheit and Emporio Armani Night.
* Friends in Brazil: Alex (his friend since youth, lived together when he was in PSG), Gutemberg Carvalho, Tiago Oliveira, Paulista, Rodrigo Gral, Guto, Rafa and Geovanni.
* A beautiful Woman: His Mother.
* Best place for him to concentrate: His House.
* Favorite Program in Brazil: “Escolinha do Professor Raimundo” (School of Professor Raimundo)
* Most important thing to him: His Family.
* Favorite School of Samba: Mangueira.
* Favorite Number: 11.
* Lucky number: 21.
* Mobile Phone: Nokia 6260.
* Favorite Songs: O meu Destino(My destiny), Ser Escravo e Vida de Cão. One of his favorite Samba songs is Deixa Vida Me Levar-Zeca Pacodinho
* Favorite Video: Cidade de deus(City of God).
* Favorite Actors: Bruce Willis, Will Smith, Julia Roberts…
* Favorite online game: is online poker.
* Languages he speaks: Português, castelhano, french, Knows a lot of words in English and knows some words in Cataluna.
