Career Timeline of Ronaldinho: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ronaldinho made an impact.
Ronaldinho, a Brazilian former professional footballer, is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. Renowned for his exceptional dribbling, free-kick accuracy, and creative flair, he won numerous individual accolades, including two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or. He is also the only player to have won a World Cup, a Copa América, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores and a Ballon d'Or. As a global icon, Ronaldinho was known for his captivating style of play and ability to both score and create goals.
1997: Rising Star at U-17 World Championship
In 1997, Ronaldinho was identified as a rising star at the U-17 World Championship in Egypt, where he scored two goals on penalty kicks.
1998: Career Debut for Grêmio
In 1998, Ronaldinho made his professional career debut for Grêmio.
1998: Senior Side Debut
In 1998, Ronaldinho made his senior side debut for Grêmio during the Copa Libertadores.
June 1999: Emergence of Ronaldinho
In June 1999, the 18-year-old Ronaldinho emerged, scoring 22 goals in 47 matches and putting in headlining displays in derbies against Internacional.
1999: Debut for Brazilian Senior Team and Copa América Victory
In 1999, Ronaldinho debuted for the Brazilian senior team in a friendly against Latvia and contributed to Brazil's Copa América victory. He also played in the FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring in every match except the final and winning both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
1999: Participates in International Youth Championships
In 1999, Ronaldinho played in the South American Youth Championship, helping the U20s to a third-place finish. He also participated in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, scoring three goals as Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
1999: Part of Copa América Winning Squad
In 1999, Ronaldinho was part of the Brazilian squad that won the Copa América.
1999: Copa América Win
In 1999, Ronaldinho won the Copa América with Brazil, marking his debut with the Seleção.
August 2001: League Debut for PSG
On 4 August 2001, Ronaldinho made his league debut for Paris Saint-Germain as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Auxerre.
2001: Failed Transfer to Arsenal
In 2001, Arsenal's interest in signing Ronaldinho collapsed due to work permit issues. His potential loan to St Mirren also failed because of a fake passport scandal in Brazil.
2001: Signing with Paris Saint-Germain
In 2001, Ronaldinho signed a five-year contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain in a €5 million transfer and was assigned the number 21 shirt.
2001: Coupe de la Ligue
In 2001, Ronaldinho was influential in the Coupe de la Ligue, helping PSG reach the semi-finals.
March 2002: Double Against Troyes
On 16 March 2002, Ronaldinho scored twice in PSG's 3–1 victory against Troyes.
October 2002: Goals Against Marseille
On 26 October 2002, Ronaldinho scored two goals in PSG's 3–1 victory over Classique rivals Marseille. The first goal was a free kick.
2002: Nike "Secret Tournament" Commercial
In 2002, Ronaldinho appeared in Nike's "Secret Tournament" commercial, also known as "Scorpion KO".
2002: Teammate of Ronaldo and Rivaldo
In 2002, Ronaldinho became teammates with his idols Ronaldo and Rivaldo, forming an attacking trio in Brazil's World Cup-winning team.
2002: Participates in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
In 2002, Ronaldinho participated in his first World Cup held in South Korea and Japan, as part of Brazil's offensive unit dubbed the "Three Rs". Ronaldinho appeared in five matches, scoring two goals and contributing three assists. Brazil won the tournament.
2002: World Cup Win
In 2002, Ronaldinho was an integral player in Brazil's World Cup winning team.
February 2003: Goal of the Season
On 22 February 2003, Ronaldinho scored the goal of the season (chosen by public vote) against Guingamp.
2003: Participates in Confederations Cup
In 2003, Ronaldinho participated in the Confederations Cup. He went scoreless as Brazil were eliminated in the group stage.
2003: Signing for Barcelona
In 2003, Ronaldinho signed for Barcelona, marking the start of his prime years.
April 2004: Victory at the Bernabéu
On 25 April 2004, Ronaldinho's scooped pass set up the winning goal for Xavi away to Real Madrid, the club's first win at the Bernabéu in seven years.
2004: Dropped from Copa América Squad
In 2004, Ronaldinho was dropped from Brazil's Copa América squad, with coach Carlos Alberto Parreira opting to rest his star players.
March 2005: Champions League Elimination
On 8 March 2005, Barcelona were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Chelsea. Ronaldinho scored both goals in the 4–2 second leg loss at Stamford Bridge.
May 2005: Assist for Messi's First Goal
On 1 May 2005, Ronaldinho assisted Lionel Messi's first goal for Barcelona.
September 2005: Contract Extension
In September 2005, Ronaldinho signed a two-year contract extension with Barcelona.
2005: FIFA Confederations Cup Title
In 2005, Ronaldinho captained his team to the FIFA Confederations Cup title and was named man of the match in the final.
2005: Nike Advertisement Viral Video
In 2005, Ronaldinho's Nike advertisement, showing him juggling a football and volleying it against the crossbar, went viral on YouTube, becoming the site's first video to reach one million views.
February 2006: Official Role with UNICEF
Since February 2006, Ronaldinho has had an official role with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.
November 2006: 50th Career League Goal
On November 25, 2006, Ronaldinho scored his 50th career league goal against Villarreal, following up with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick. Barcelona fans admired the goal.
2006: Richard Williams of The Guardian described Ronaldinho as a "genius"
In 2006, Richard Williams of The Guardian described Ronaldinho as a genius.
2006: Participates in the 2006 World Cup
In 2006, Ronaldinho participated in the World Cup as part of Brazil's 'magic quartet'. The team's performance was disappointing, and Ronaldinho himself had a poor showing, with Brazil being eliminated in the quarter-finals.
2006: Earnings from Endorsements
In 2006, Ronaldinho, one of the world's highest paid players, earned over $19 million from endorsements.
2006: Creation of Ronaldinho Gaúcho Comic Strip
In 2006, during the FIFA World Cup in Germany, the Ronaldinho Gaúcho Brazilian celebrity comic strip by Mauricio de Sousa was created, featuring a fictionalized version of Ronaldinho as a child.
March 2007: Scores Twice Against Chile
In March 2007, Ronaldinho scored twice in a 4-0 win over Chile, marking his first goal for Brazil since the 2005 Confederations Cup final, ending a nearly two-year scoreless streak.
February 2008: 200th Career Match for Barcelona
On February 3, 2008, Ronaldinho played his 200th career match for Barcelona in a league match against Osasuna.
May 2008: Announcement of a New Challenge
On May 19, 2008, Barcelona club president Joan Laporta stated that Ronaldinho needed a "new challenge" and a new club to revive his career.
July 2008: Joined AC Milan
In July 2008, Ronaldinho joined AC Milan on a three-year contract for €22.05 million plus bonuses, turning down an offer from Manchester City.
July 2008: Participates in 2008 Summer Olympics
In July 2008, Ronaldinho was named in Brazil's squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He captained the team, scored two goals against New Zealand, and won a bronze medal.
2008: Bronze Medal at Summer Olympics
In 2008, Ronaldinho captained the Brazil Olympic team to a bronze medal in men's football at the Summer Olympics.
2008: Departure to AC Milan
2008: First Goal for Milan
In 2008, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Milan in a 1–0 derby victory over Inter Milan on September 28. He finished the 2008–09 season with 10 goals from 32 appearances.
January 2010: Goals Against Juventus and Siena
In January 2010, Ronaldinho scored two goals against Juventus on January 10, securing a 3–0 victory for Milan. On January 17, 2010, against Siena, Ronaldinho scored his first hat-trick for Milan.
2010: Nike "Write the Future" Commercial
In 2010, Ronaldinho was featured in Nike's "Write the Future" commercial, executing stepovers that became a viral trend.
2010: Edgar Davids' Statement
In 2010, Ronaldinho's former Barcelona teammate, Edgar Davids, stated that Ronaldinho was the best player he ever played with, citing his exceptional skills and tricks.
2010: Serie A Title with AC Milan
In the 2010–11 season, Ronaldinho was part of the AC Milan squad that won the Serie A title.
January 2011: Joined Flamengo
On January 11, 2011, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo with a contract ending in 2014, after being linked with various other clubs. He was unveiled to fans on January 13, 2011.
February 2011: First Goal and Trophy with Flamengo
In February 2011, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Flamengo on February 6. On February 27, 2011, he scored a free kick to win the Taça Guanabara, his first trophy with the team.
July 2011: Hat-trick against Santos
On July 27, 2011, Ronaldinho scored a hat-trick in Flamengo's 5–4 away win against rivals Santos.
September 2011: Returns to National Team
In September 2011, Ronaldinho returned to the Brazilian national team under coach Mano Menezes for a friendly against Ghana. He played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win for Brazil.
2011: Return to Brazil with Flamengo
In 2011, Ronaldinho returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo.
2011: Coca-Cola Endorsement Deal
In 2011, Ronaldinho signed an endorsement deal with Coca-Cola.
2011: Joins United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
In 2011, Ronaldinho was recruited by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to promote awareness among young people of the disease and how to avoid it.
June 2012: Debut and First Goal for Galo
In June 2012, Ronaldinho made his debut for Galo on June 9 and scored his first goal for the club on June 23 against Náutico.
June 2012: Move to Atlético Mineiro
On June 4, 2012, Ronaldinho moved to Atlético Mineiro on a six-month contract, wearing number 49.
April 2013: Named Captain for Friendly Against Chile
In April 2013, Ronaldinho was named captain of the national team for a friendly against Chile. He was not selected for the 2013 Confederations Cup or the 2014 World Cup squad.
2013: Copa Libertadores Title with Atlético Mineiro
In 2013, Ronaldinho helped Atlético win the Campeonato Mineiro and led the club to its first Copa Libertadores title. He was voted the 2013 South American Footballer of the Year.
2013: Copa Libertadores Win
In 2013, Ronaldinho won the Copa Libertadores with Atlético Mineiro.
January 2014: Contract Renewal with Atlético
In January 2014, Ronaldinho renewed his contract with Atlético.
September 2014: Signed with Querétaro
On September 5, 2014, Ronaldinho signed a two-year contract with Mexican club Querétaro.
October 2014: First Goal for Querétaro
On October 30, 2014, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Querétaro in a 4–1 win against Guadalajara and scored a free kick against Atlas.
2014: Rejected Extension
In 2005, Ronaldinho was offered a contract extension until 2014, but he turned it down.
April 2015: Standing Ovation from América Supporters
On April 18, 2015, Ronaldinho scored twice against Liga MX title-holders América, leading to a standing ovation from the opposing fans at the Estadio Azteca.
May 2015: Liga MX Playoffs
On May 17, 2015, Ronaldinho scored two penalties in consecutive matches for Querétaro, helping them progress to the Liga MX semi-finals.
June 2015: Departure from Querétaro
In June 2015, Ronaldinho announced his departure from Querétaro, thanking the Mexican people and fans of the club.
July 2015: Return to Brazil and Termination of Fluminense Deal
In July 2015, Ronaldinho returned to Brazil and signed an 18-month contract with Fluminense. However, on September 28, he mutually agreed to terminate the deal after only nine appearances in two months due to poor performance and criticism from fans. Fluminense's sporting director noted Ronaldinho's honesty about his inability to perform to his desired level.
2015: Playing for Fluminense
In 2015, Ronaldinho played for Fluminense in Brazil.
2015: End of Ronaldinho Gaúcho Comic Strip
In 2015, the Ronaldinho Gaúcho comic strip by Mauricio de Sousa ended its run.
July 2016: Plays for Goa 5's and becomes Paralympics Ambassador
In July 2016, Ronaldinho joined Goa 5's, a futsal team in India, for the Premier Futsal League, playing alongside other football legends. After two games, he left to become an ambassador for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
February 2017: Barcelona Ambassador Deal
On February 2, 2017, Barcelona announced that Ronaldinho signed a 10-year deal to become an ambassador for the club at institutional events.
October 2017: Joins Delhi Dragons
From September to early October 2017, Ronaldinho played for the Delhi Dragons in the Premier Futsal League, scoring 16 goals in eight games.
January 2018: Confirms Retirement from Football
On January 16, 2018, Ronaldinho officially retired from football, as confirmed by his brother and agent. A celebration was planned after the Russia World Cup. He retired having won the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.
July 2018: Partnership with World Soccer Coin (WSC)
On July 6, 2018, Ronaldinho announced a partnership with World Soccer Coin (WSC) to develop a new cryptocurrency, the Ronaldinho Soccer Coin, aimed at funding football projects.
2018: Appearance in Kickboxer: Retaliation
In 2018, Ronaldinho appeared in the American martial arts film Kickboxer: Retaliation.
2019: Willian and Juninho's Statements
In 2019, his compatriot Willian rated Ronaldinho as the greatest player of all time, while Juninho described him as the most skillful player he had ever seen.
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