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5	The King of Brazil At just 28, world soccer phenom Ronaldinho has established himself as one of the top players in the game, as well as a community-minded philanthropist seeking to improve the lives of youth. read more...

O Rei do Brasil

The King of Brazil

At just 28, Brazilian soccer phenom Ronaldinho has established a fortune, a foundation and a fan legion of millions.

With an inimitable smile and the brazenness of a child, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, known to the world as Ronaldinho Gaucho or simply Ronaldinho for short, is the world’s second best soccer player and is certainly one of the most beloved. In addition to earning dozens of accolades as a star athlete, the Brazilian midfielder for the FC Barcelona and media darling is having a banner year.
Currently one of the team’s golden boys, Ronaldinho is well on his way to helping his team achieve its three objectives of winning the Champions Cup, the Spanish League Cup and the King’s Cup, while finding time to start an organization benefitting his hometown.
The demands of having to stay at the top of the game, be the center of attention and act as a role model might overwhelm even the toughest player, and many pro-athletes have crumbled under the pressure. But Ronaldinho plays it down. His well-known humility makes him something of an oddity in pro-sports.
“I’m not the best in the [team]” says Ronaldinho when this is suggested in interviews. He deflects the attention paid to him, turning the spotlight instead on his teammate, the Argentine Lionel Messi. “Messi is a good friend and undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. It is an honor to play on his team because he makes the game easier and enhances the results.”
However the Brazilian ball player may wish to redirect flattery, sports stats don’t lie. At only 28, Ronaldinho already has a World Cup championship under his belt. He helped win the World Cup in Japan in 2002, where he scored two goals and disputed five matches. In additional, his team has earned two Spanish Soccer League titles, in 2005 and 2006, and one Intertoto Cup. As for individual distinctions, Ronaldinho had the honor of being named best player in the world twice by the FIFA in 2004 and 2005.
It’s been a long road for Ronaldinho, who went from being the Porto Alegre phenom to one of Barcelona’s idols, and for whom FC Barcelona paid nearly 30 million euros to secure. He began his career in the competitive world of Brazilian junior soccer, where he helped his country win the World Championship for players under 17. His father Joao had been a professional player, as had his brother Roberto before an injury sent him to the sidelines permanently (Roberto now manages Ronaldinho’s career and his sister is his press agent).
After a phenomenal finish to his years of playing with the Porto Alegre league Gremio, Ronaldinho left Brazil to play with the Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. His performance in the 2002 World Cup cemented his status as an elite player. One year later he sought to leave the medium-sized Parisian team. The announcement set off a bidding war in which pro-soccer as teams came out the woodwork to try to secure him for a spot on their roster. Ultimately the FC Barcelona won out.
The athlete now boasts an 8.5 million euro contract [approximately $13.4 million in today’s dollars]. The contract has made him the world’s second highest-paid player, second to KaKa, a fellow Brazilian playing in Milan, according to a Portuguese soccer finance firm. His salary of 710,000 euros a month [about $1.1 million] puts him ahead of players other wealthy teams such as the Real Madrid and Manchester United. Clearly highly sought-after, Ronaldinho was able to secure an incredible contract ending in 2010. And this February, he played in his 200th match for Barcelona.
Ronaldinho’s seasonal salary is not limited by his contract. You can add to that the bundles he makes in endorsements for companies such as Lay’s, Nike, Pepsi, Rexona and Gatorade, to name a few.
Ronaldinho is all about solidarity, and takes part in charitable and activities, many of them for children. For instance he is a UNICEF ambassador, and along with his mother Miguelita and sister Deisi and brother Roberto, has spearheaded the Ronaldinho Gaucho Institute. Headquartered in his hometown of Porto Alegre, this social initiative serves more than 3,500 underprivileged children. The property encompasses 11.7 hectares, four of which are environmentally preserved. Although his primary goal is helping society through the sport, Ronaldinho also offers education and cultural programs.
“My foundation brings me happiness everyday,” Ronaldinho says.
“Now is the time to unblock barriers and expand into other countries. Kids need sports to grow and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” he says in an interview with Hispanic during an event announcing him as the face of Nutrilite for the Amway One by One campaign for children, which donates money to the needy for each goal Ronaldinho scores this season.
With three more years on his contract with Barcelona, Ronaldinho will be in the spotlight for some time to come.

Player Profile:
Ronaldinho

Date of Birth March 21, 1980
Place of Birth Porto Alegre, Brazil

Career Highlights
First Professional Team: Brazil’s FC Gremio

Home Team Ronaldinho makes his first professional appearance in 1998 as a senior player with the Brazilian Gremio team in the Libertadores Cup. In 1999, he enters the Brazilian national team.

International Career In 2001, Ronaldinho signs a five-year contract with the Paris Saint-Germain FC, after receiving several offers from other European clubs. In July 2003, FC Barcelona pays 21 million euros for Ronaldinho, besting several international suitors including the Manchester United. He is contracted to play for Barcelona until 2010.

Awards In 2004 Ronaldinho is names FIFA World Player of the Year.
Ronaldinho is awarded again the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005, in addition to the titles of European Footballer of the Year and FIFPro World Player of the Year.
Also on November 19, he is given a standing ovation by the Real Madrid’s followers for his performance in the game against them, something that has not happened since Diego Armando Maradona played for Barcelona in 1982. He also becomes the first Brazilian to win the Ballon D’or [Golden Ball] Award.
On 2006, the FIFPro World Player of the Year. On November 25 of that year, he scored his 50th league goal.
January 2007 Ronaldinho was named among the UEFA Team of the Year for the third time in a row, receiving the highest number of votes among almost 292,000 nominations.