Where Is Ronaldinho Now? Inside the Soccer Legend’s Life Today

Ronaldinho He is arguably one among the most electrifying gamers in soccer historical past.

The Brazilian native has been wowing followers along with his easy dribbling and tight management since his early days rising up in the favelas of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to the pitch at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Ronaldinho reached the pinnacle of soccer in 2002 when he helped Brazil win the World Cup and went on to gather a number of prestigious awards all through his profession, together with the Ballon d’Or.

However, he has additionally skilled the heartbreak of dropping his father at a younger age, and has struggled with authorized and monetary bother off the pitch.

The man recognized to followers as Ronaldinho Gaúcho has made a number of public appearances since his 2018 retirement, however a brand new Netflix documentary sequence, Ronaldinho: The One and Onlywhich premiered on April 16, takes a more in-depth take a look at the particular person behind the spotlight reels.

So, the place is Ronaldinho now? Here’s all the pieces to learn about his life at the moment.

He grew up in a soccer household

Ronaldinho, born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, grew up in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

His father, João Moreira, was a shipyard employee, and his mom, Miguelina de Assis, was a salesman finding out to turn into a nurse, in keeping with Biography.com. But soccer was at all times in Ronaldinho’s blood.

“I come from a family where soccer has always been very present,” he instructed Sports Illustrated in June 2006. “My uncles, my father and my brother were all players. Living with that kind of background, I learned a great deal from them. I tried to devote myself to it more and more with the passage of time.”

Unfortunately, João died unexpectedly after hitting his head and drowning in the household’s new swimming pool when Ronaldinho was eight, per the Bleacher Report.

In a January 2017 letter to his youthful self for The Players’ Tribunethe Brazilian star mirrored on the ache of dropping his “superhero.”

“You’re not going to really feel unhappiness instantly,” he wrote. “That will come later. A number of years from now, you’ll settle for that Dad is rarely coming again on earth. But what I need you to grasp is that each time you may have a ball at your ft, Dad will probably be with you.”

He turned one among the recreation’s largest stars in Europe

Ronaldinho was a part of the Grêmio system and made his debut for the senior aspect in 1998. During his time with the hometown workforce, he scored at a prolific fee and confirmed flashes of his signature aptitude.

Ronaldinho’s recreation began attracting the consideration of European golf equipment, and he ultimately signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. But it was his 2003 high-profile transfer to FC Barcelona that made him one among the most recognizable gamers in the world, as he performed alongside Lionel MessiSamuel Eto’o, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.

During his 5 seasons with the membership, Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2006. He additionally gained the coveted Ballon d’Or in 2005, was named FIFA World Player of the Year twice and was awarded the 2005 European Footballer of the Year.

After leaving Barcelona in 2008, Ronaldinho joined AC Milan. He later returned to Brazil, taking part in for golf equipment together with Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro, serving to the latter win the Copa Libertadores in 2013.

Ronaldinho additionally had temporary stints with Querétaro FC and Fluminense FC earlier than stepping away from top-level competitors.

He win helped the 2002 World Cup for Brazil

Ronaldinho made a splash on the worldwide stage in 1997 when he introduced residence Brazil’s first FIFA U-17 World Cup in Egypt.

“The U-17 World Cup is a very special tournament for me,” I shared 20 years later in a September 2017 interview with Goal.com. “It opened the door for my professional career. I was lucky enough not only to take part in the competition but to win it too. I can honestly say that it opened the door for my professional career.”

Five years later, he starred in a strong trio with Ronaldo and Rivaldo as a part of Brazil’s squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Ronaldinho performed a key position in Brazil’s run to the title, scoring twice throughout the event, together with a memorable long-range free kick towards England in the quarterfinals. Brazil went on to defeat Germany 2–0 in the closing, securing the nation’s fifth World Cup title.

His son can be a soccer participant

Ronaldinho welcomed his son, Joao Mendeson Feb. 25, 2005, with skilled dancer Janaína Mendes.

João frolicked in FC Barcelona’s youth system earlier than making a transfer to Burnley FC in August 2024 on a reported two-year deal, in keeping with ESPN. His stint there was short-lived, with stories in May 2025 indicating he could be launched early.

Later that yr, João continued his growth by joining Hull City’s academy in September 2025.

When João first arrived in Barcelona, ​​a supportive Ronaldinho shared his pleasure about seeing his son put on the membership’s colours.

“Yes, I have [João] is coming [to Barcelona] now,” he stated in a 2023 interview with RAC-1, by way of Brand. “I’m never out of the club. Barcelona is part of life. Wherever I go, I take Barcelona with me. With my son arriving at Barça, I’ll be more present than ever.”

The father and son later performed collectively in an exhibition match in 2023, which their workforce gained.

I’ve confronted authorized and monetary points off the area

The Instituto Ronaldinho Gaúcho, a corporation serving underprivileged youth in Brazil, was investigated in 2012 and 2015 for allegedly irregular contracts with the metropolis corridor of Porto Alegre, per the Associated Press.

In 2018, his property had been seized in reference to an unpaid environmental high quality associated to the building of the Instituto Ronaldinho Gaúcho, ESPN reported. Among the gadgets seized had been two BMW vehicles, a Mercedes, a portray and televisions.

More bother adopted in 2019, when Brazilian paper Folha de S.Paulo reported that the striker owed $2.51 million in environmental functions after illegally constructing a pier on the shores of the Guaiba river at his Porto Alegre lake home, in keeping with Reuters.

The report additionally claimed that Ronaldinho had amassed money owed amounting to greater than $2 million. That similar yr, his Brazilian and Spanish passports had been confiscated on account of the unpaid fines and taxes, per ESPN.

Despite reportedly regaining entry to his passport in September 2019, the star soccer participant and his brother Roberto had been arrested in March 2020 for getting into Paraguay with pretend passports, the BBC reported. The brothers agreed to a plea discount that included hefty functions and conditions relating to journey.

I’ve retired in 2018

Ronaldinho formally hung up his cleats in January 2018, three years after he final performed professionally. The retirement was confirmed by his brother Roberto, who additionally doubled as his agent.

“He has stopped, it is ended,” Roberto stated, in keeping with ESPN. “Let’s do one thing fairly large and good [to celebrate his farewell] after the Russia World Cup, most likely in August.”

He continued, “We will do various events in Brazil, Europe and Asia and, of course, we are arranging something with the Brazilian team as well.”