Ronaldinho Gaúcho, the making of a myth remembered 20 years on | OneFootball

Twenty years on from 19 December 2005, Ronaldinho Gaúcho was named FIFA world player for the second year running with Barcelona, ahead of Frank Lampard and Samuel Eto'o. Globo.com reports that the anniversary stirs a trove of early tales from Porto Alegre, underlining how he stayed rooted to home.

Aged 10 he wowed futsal coach Cleon Espinoza at the Associação dos Servidores da Procergs. A post-training lift for the boy who walked more than 1.5 kilometres to his bus stop helped convince him to drop into the younger category and join new team-mates.

His debut captured the aura, introduced as a reserve, his first touch brought chest control, a sombrero flick, another and an assist, leaving the opposition bench bemused. Soon the timidity vanished on court, replaced by audacity that tormented older boys.

Football was family, father João and uncle João Ademar, Miquimba, shone locally, while brother Roberto Assis guided him at Grêmio after their father’s death. Club staff later discouraged futsal and beach kickabouts for fear of injury, though he still found ways to play.

From Grêmio he moved through PSG, Barcelona, Milan, Flamengo, Atlético-MG, Querétaro and Fluminense. Former colleague Tiago Ritter remembers a penalty routine that deceived even when read, and juggling feats with rubber training balls that others could not emulate.

Their seaside team, New Kids, first wore Brazil shirts only because a coach could buy a full set. Music scored his rise, with parties at his Eldorado do Sul ranch featuring Belo, Turma do Pagode, Fundo de Quintal, Tchakabum and Grupo Revelação.

Some Grêmio fans felt hurt by his 2011 move to Flamengo, yet many in Porto Alegre recall generosity and joy. To them, the world’s best remained the Gaúcho who began by enchanting a city.

Source: Globo.com