📍Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1980 – 1998“Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, known as Ronaldinho, was born in Porto Alegre, in the far south of Brazil, in March 1980 and grew up in Vila Nova, a modest neighbourhood on the city's southern hills. He was the youngest of three children. His father, João, was a shipyard worker who played amateur football and was devoted to Grêmio, and his mother, Miguelina, was a saleswoman who later trained as a nurse. Football was everywhere in the family: his older brother, Roberto, was a rising star at Grêmio. When Roberto signed a professional contract, the family moved to a house with a swimming pool, but when Ronaldinho was eight, his father died suddenly in the pool. It was a devastating loss, and Roberto became like a father to him and later his agent. Ronaldinho threw himself into football, playing futsal, beach football and street football for hours, learning the tricks, flicks and dribbles that would make him famous, often juggling the ball with the family dog. He was nicknamed Ronaldinho, little Ronaldo, because he was the youngest and smallest player in his teams. At thirteen he became famous locally when he scored all 23 goals in a youth match won 23-0. He came through Grêmio's youth teams and made his debut in 1998, and starred at the 1999 Copa América and the 2002 World Cup, which Brazil won. At Barcelona he won the Ballon d'Or and the Champions League, playing with a joy that made him loved around the world. He has always said that everything he achieved, he owes to his mother and his brother Roberto.”
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today