LEGENDS - BRAZIL - KEYPLAYER - Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 03/2015

Personal information
Full name
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
Date of birth
21 March 1980
Place of birth
Porto Alegre, Brazil
Height
1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position
Attacking midfielder / Forward

Club information
Current team
Querétaro
Number
49

Youth career

Grêmio
1987-1998

Senior career*

Grêmio
1998-2001
52x apps / 21x goals

Paris Saint-Germain
2001-2003
55x apps / 17x goals

Barcelona
2003-2008
145x apps / 70x goals

Milan
2008-2011
76x apps / 20x goals

Flamengo
2011-2012
33x apps / 15x goals

Atlético Mineiro
2012-2014
47x apps / 17x goals

Querétaro
2014-
14x apps / 3x goals

National team‡

Brazil U17
1996
6x apps / 2x goals

Brazil U20
1999
5x apps / 3x goals

Brazil U23
1999-2005
27x apps / 18x goals

Brazil
1999-
97x apps / 33x goals

(* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 March 2015 - National team caps and goals correct as of 23 April 2013)

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, born 21 March 1980, commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Mexican club Querétaro. 

His main playing position is as an attacking midfielder or forward. 

He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005. 

Renowned for his technique, tricks, dribbling, overhead kicks, no-look passes and free kicks.

Ronaldinho is regarded to be one of the best players of his generation.

"Ronaldinho", the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo", is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho" (since he hails from southern Brazil), in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. 

Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.

Ronaldinho has played 97 matches and scored 33 goals for the Brazil national football team. 

He was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio, and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

At club level, prior to his move to Querétaro, Ronaldinho played for Grêmio, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, Milan, Flamengo, and Atlético Mineiro. 

With Barcelona, he won the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005. 

He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007.

Ronaldinho was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and to the FIFPro World XI from 2005-2007.