Gaucho Ronaldinho @ 42: The Legend Dribbler With A Smile (Video)

Football will live to remember the glamour Gaucho Ronaldinho brought to the beautiful game and the smile he put on our faces. He was an incredible dribbler, playmaker, goal scorer and a sensational talent.

‘Joga Bonito’ personified which translates to ‘play beautifully’ in English, the Brazilian magician played the game with a smile on his face that enchanted even opponents. Playing for Barcelona in an El Classico, he won the reputation of receiving applause from the rival Real Madrid stands two different times he put the ball into the opponent’s goal!

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira popularly known as Ronaldinho Gaucho was the cynosure of all eyes at the tender age of 13 when he scored all 23 goals for his team in a 23-0 victory over a local team while playing in Brazil. That performance sparked opinions that he was a soccer phenomenon in the making.

Born on March 21, 1980 at Porto Alegre in Brazil, he was an emblem of the ”Samba” style of football. A style of football which was popular among Brazilian footballers, he garnished his own with excellent dribbling abilities that made his opponents look like kids.

A recipient of many coveted awards and laurels, he was a great footballer and a generational talent. His professional career kicked off at Gremio in Brazil, before he made the big move to Barcelona in 2003 where he would go on to become a global star.

The Catalan giants will never forget his enormous impact in the club as he mesmerised the whole of La Liga. Wearing the iconic number 10 jersey, he helped the Blaugrana to numerous domestic trophies as well as a UEFA Champions League triumph in 2006. However, due to the fact that he had a penchant for taking up challenges, he went to AC Milan to continue his club career winning the Serie A in 2010-11.

He later enjoyed spells in Mexico and his native Brazil with Fluminese where he put an end to a blissful football journey. 543 games, 97 International caps, 230 goals and 187 assists, he was a god of the game.

In his international career with Brazil, he scored 37 goals and represented his country in two FIFA World Cups. After debuting with the Seleção by winning the 1999 Copa America, 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.

As captain, he led his team to the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup title and was named man of the match in the final. He also captained the Brazil Olympic team to a bronze medal in men’s football at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Ronaldinho also had endorsement deals with leading companies like Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and EA Sports that sometimes showed him with that famous smile.

After his footballing days, he was, however, headlined for the wrong reasons, serving a six-month jail term in Paraguay for entry into the country with a fake passport.

Considered one of the best players of his generation and regarded by many as one of the greatest of all-time, Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a FIFA Ballon d’Or. An entertainer, a football artist and a global icon of the sport, Ronaldinho and his smile will forever be celebrated not only on his birthdays but for as long as the game of football continues.

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