Career Timeline of Ronaldinho: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ronaldinho made an impact.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho, a Brazilian former professional footballer, is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. Known for his exceptional dribbling, free-kick accuracy, tricks, and playmaking ability, he won numerous individual awards, including two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or. He is uniquely distinguished as the only player to have secured victories in the World Cup, Copa América, Confederations Cup, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and the Ballon d'Or. Nicknamed "O Bruxo", Ronaldinho was a global icon and one of the most valuable sportsmen during his career.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1997: Ronaldinho wins FIFA U-17 World Championship

In 1997, Ronaldinho was part of the Brazilian team that won the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Egypt. He scored two goals in the tournament and was awarded the Bronze Ball.

June 1999: Rio Grande do Sul State Championship final

On June 20, 1999, Ronaldinho gave a headlining performance in the Rio Grande do Sul State Championship final, embarrassing Dunga.

1999: Ronaldinho debuts for Brazil and wins Copa América

In 1999, Ronaldinho debuted for the Brazilian senior team in a friendly victory against Latvia. He also scored a goal during Brazil's victorious Copa América campaign. He was then called up for the FIFA Confederations Cup, where he won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, despite Brazil losing the final against Mexico.

1999: Ronaldinho's international play in 1999

In 1999, Ronaldinho played in the South American Youth Championship, helping the U20s to reach third place. He also participated in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, scoring three goals, with Brazil being eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

1999: Winning Copa America

In 1999, Ronaldinho won the Copa America

2000: Ronaldinho participates in the Summer Olympics

In 2000, Ronaldinho participated in the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, with the U23 national team. Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Cameroon. Ronaldinho appeared four times and scored one goal.

August 2001: League Debut for PSG

On August 4, 2001, Ronaldinho made his league debut for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), appearing as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Auxerre.

March 2002: Scored Twice Against Troyes

On March 16, 2002, Ronaldinho scored two goals in Paris Saint-Germain's 3–1 victory against Troyes.

2002: Ronaldinho appears in Nike "Secret Tournament" commercial

In 2002, Ronaldinho appeared in Nike commercials, including the "Secret Tournament" commercial (branded "Scorpion KO") directed by Terry Gilliam.

2002: Ronaldinho participates in his first World Cup

In 2002, Ronaldinho participated in his first World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan. He appeared in five matches, scored two goals, and contributed three assists, being part of the "Three Rs" offensive unit.

2003: Ronaldinho goes scoreless at Confederations Cup

In 2003, Ronaldinho participated in the Confederations Cup, but he went scoreless as Brazil were eliminated in the group stage.

2004: Ronaldinho on FIFA Football 2004 cover

In 2004, Ronaldinho featured on the cover of EA Sports' FIFA Football 2004.

2004: Ronaldinho dropped from Copa América squad

In 2004, Ronaldinho was dropped from Brazil's Copa América squad, with the coach choosing to rest his stars and use a largely reserve squad.

September 2005: Won FIFPro World Player of the Year

In September 2005, Ronaldinho won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year, was included in the 2005 FIFPro World XI, and was named the 2005 European Footballer of the Year.

2005: Winning Confederations Cup final

In 2005 Ronaldinho participated in the Confederations Cup final and scored his first goal

2005: Ronaldinho leads Brazil to Confederations Cup title

In 2005, Ronaldinho captained Brazil and led his team to its second Confederations Cup title. He scored three goals in the tournament and was named Man of the Match in the final against Argentina. He also is tied with Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the tournament's all-time top goalscorer with nine goals.

2005: Ballon d'Or and World Player of the Year Award

In 2005, Ronaldinho received the Ballon d'Or and his second FIFA World Player of the Year award. Also in the 2005-2006 El Clásico, he received a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans.

2005: UEFA Club Footballer of the Year

In 2005, Ronaldinho was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for the 2005-06 season.

2005: Ronaldinho's Nike advertisement goes viral

In 2005, Ronaldinho's Nike advertisement, featuring 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.

2005: Standing Ovation at Bernabéu

In April 2015, Ronaldinho noted that the standing ovation he received from América fans reminded him of a previous ovation from Madrid fans in 2005.

February 2006: Ronaldinho becomes an official with UNICEF

In February 2006, Ronaldinho assumed an official role with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

May 2006: Champions League Final Win

On 17 May 2006, Ronaldinho and Barcelona won the Champions League Final against Arsenal with a score of 2–1. This victory marked Barcelona's first Champions League title in 14 years and contributed to Ronaldinho achieving his first career double.

November 2006: Spectacular Goal Against Villarreal

On 25 November 2006, Ronaldinho scored his 50th career league goal against Villarreal, followed by a second goal with an overhead bicycle kick. After receiving a cross from Xavi, he flicked the ball up with his chest and spun 180 degrees to finish. Barcelona fans waved white handkerchiefs in admiration of the goal.

2006: Ronaldinho at the 2006 World Cup

At the 2006 World Cup finals, Ronaldinho was part of Brazil's much-publicized "magic quartet" of offensive players. However, the team was deemed "top heavy and unbalanced," and Ronaldinho had his worst collective performance in his international career, going scoreless with only one assist. Brazil lost to France in the quarter-finals.

2006: Richard Williams describes Ronaldinho as a genius

In 2006, Richard Williams of The Guardian described Ronaldinho as a "genius", and his former Barcelona teammate Sylvinho praised his intelligence and talent.

2006: UEFA Club Footballer of the Year

In 2006, Ronaldinho was named the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and was chosen for the UEFA Team of the Year for the third consecutive time. He was also named in the six man shortlist for the 2006 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, and was selected in the FIFA World XI, marking a highly successful year.

2006: Ronaldinho's endorsement earnings

In 2006, Ronaldinho, one of the world's highest paid players, earned over $19 million from endorsements.

March 2007: Champions League Elimination and Injury

In March 2007, defending champions Barcelona, including Ronaldinho, were eliminated from the Champions League at the last 16 stage by Liverpool. Around the same time, Ronaldinho missed a charity match on 13 March due to an injury he had picked up several days earlier in Barcelona's 3–3 El Clásico draw with Real Madrid.

March 2007: Ronaldinho scores twice against Chile

On March 24, 2007, Ronaldinho scored twice in a 4–0 win over Chile, ending a nearly two-year scoreless streak.

February 2008: 200th Match for Barcelona

In February 2008, specifically on 3 February, Ronaldinho played his 200th career match for Barcelona in a league match against Osasuna.

May 2008: Laporta's Statement on Ronaldinho's Future

On 19 May 2008, Barcelona club president Joan Laporta stated that Ronaldinho needed a "new challenge" and claimed he needed a new club to revive his career.

July 2008: Joins AC Milan

In July 2008, Ronaldinho turned down an offer from Manchester City to join AC Milan on a three-year contract worth around £5.1 million (€6.5 million) a year, for €22.05 million plus €1.05 million bonus each season (€24.15 million in 2010).

July 2008: Ronaldinho named in Brazil's Olympics squad

On July 7, 2008, Ronaldinho was named in Brazil's 2008 Summer Olympics squad. After initial resistance from Barcelona, his transfer to Milan allowed him to participate. He captained the team and scored two goals against New Zealand. Brazil won the bronze medal.

2008: First Season with AC Milan

During the 2008–09 season, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Milan in a 1–0 derby victory over Inter Milan on 28 September, and his first brace was in a 3–0 win over Sampdoria on 19 October. He finished the season with 10 goals from 32 appearances, but his fitness and dedication were questioned, leading to criticism.

January 2010: Goals Against Juventus and Siena

In January 2010, Ronaldinho scored two goals against Juventus on 10 January, leading Milan to a 3–0 victory. Following this, on 17 January against Siena, he scored his first hat-trick for Milan.

May 2010: Ronaldinho not named in 2010 World Cup squad

In May 2010, despite being in good form and named in the provisional squad, Ronaldinho was not included in Brazil's final squad for the 2010 World Cup, leading to criticism and debate over the team's style of play.

2010: Ronaldinho featured in Nike commercial "Write the Future"

In 2010, Ronaldinho was featured in Nike's commercial "Write the Future", directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, showcasing his stepovers, which became a viral trend.

2010: Edgar Davids comments on Ronaldinho's skills

In 2010, Ronaldinho's former Barcelona teammate, Edgar Davids, remarked that "For the skills and tricks, Ronaldinho was the best player that I ever played with."

2010: AC Milan Contract Details

In July 2008, Ronaldinho's contract with AC Milan was worth €22.05 million plus €1.05 million bonus each season (€24.15 million in 2010).

January 2011: Joins Flamengo

On 11 January 2011, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo with a contract ending in 2014, after being linked with various other clubs. He was greeted by over 20,000 fans at his unveiling on 13 January 2011.

February 2011: First Goal and Title with Flamengo

In February 2011, on 6 February, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Flamengo in a 3–2 victory against Boavista. Later, on 27 February, he scored a free kick to beat Boavista 1–0, winning his first title, the Taça Guanabara, with Flamengo.

July 2011: Hat-trick against Santos

On 27 July 2011, Ronaldinho scored a hat-trick in Flamengo's 5–4 away win against rivals Santos, after being 3–0 down inside the first 30 minutes.

September 2011: Ronaldinho returns to the national team

In September 2011, Ronaldinho returned to the national team under coach Mano Menezes, playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Ghana. He had solid performances in subsequent friendlies against Argentina.

2011: Ronaldinho signs deal with Coca-Cola

In 2011, Ronaldinho signed a deal with Coca-Cola, after endorsing Pepsi for much of his career.

2011: Ronaldinho recruited by UNAIDS

In 2011, Ronaldinho was recruited by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to promote awareness of the disease among young people.

May 2012: Leaves Flamengo Due to Lack of Payment

On 31 May 2012, Ronaldinho sued Flamengo claiming lack of payment for four months and cancelled his contract with the club.

June 2012: Debut and First Goal for Atlético Mineiro

In June 2012, specifically on 9 June, Ronaldinho debuted for Atlético Mineiro, playing 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Palmeiras. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 June 2012 against Náutico from the penalty spot.

June 2012: Moves to Atlético Mineiro

On 4 June 2012, Ronaldinho moved to Atlético Mineiro on a six-month contract, just four days after leaving Flamengo. He wore number 49 in reference to his mother's birth year.

April 2013: Ronaldinho named captain for friendly against Chile

In April 2013, Ronaldinho was named captain of the national team for a friendly against Chile.

2013: FIFA Club World Cup

At the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup held in Morocco in December, Atlético lost 3–1 to Raja Casablanca in the semi-final, with Ronaldinho scoring from a free-kick.

2013: Copa Libertadores Title

In 2013, Ronaldinho helped Atlético win the Campeonato Mineiro and led the club to its first Copa Libertadores title. He scored four goals and assisted on eight occasions during the competition.

2013: Bola de Ouro Award

Ronaldinho led Atlético Mineiro to a good 2012 season, in which the club finished second in the 2012 Brasileirão and qualified for the 2013 Copa Libertadores. Ronaldinho won the Bola de Ouro award, selected as the best player in the league.

January 2014: Contract Renewal with Atlético

In January 2014, Ronaldinho renewed his contract with Atlético Mineiro.

September 2014: Signs with Querétaro

On 5 September 2014, Ronaldinho signed a two-year contract with Mexican club Querétaro after being offered contracts from other clubs.

October 2014: Scores First Goal for Querétaro

In October 2014, Ronaldinho scored his first goal for Querétaro from a penalty kick in a 4–1 win against Guadalajara. On 30 October 2014, he scored a free kick against Atlas at the Estadio Jalisco.

2014: Ronaldinho omitted from 2014 World Cup squad

In 2014, Ronaldinho was omitted from Scolari's 2014 World Cup finals squad.

2014: End of Flamengo Contract

On 11 January 2011, Ronaldinho joined Flamengo with a contract ending in 2014.

April 2015: Standing Ovation from América Fans

On 18 April 2015, Ronaldinho scored twice against Liga MX title-holders América in an away game at the Estadio Azteca, leading his team to a 4–0 victory. He received a standing ovation from the América supporters after his goals.

May 2015: Liga MX Playoffs and Semi-Finals

In May 2015, Ronaldinho scored two penalties in consecutive matches. On 17 May 2015, Querétaro progressed to the semi-finals after defeating Veracruz 4–3. Querétaro eventually advanced to the final after beating Pachuca on aggregate 2–2.

June 2015: Departure from Querétaro

In June 2015, Ronaldinho announced his departure from Querétaro, expressing gratitude to the Mexican people and fans of the club.

July 2015: Ronaldinho returns to Brazil and signs with Fluminense

In July 2015, Ronaldinho returned to Brazil, signing an 18-month contract with Fluminense. However, the deal was terminated by mutual agreement in September after nine appearances, with Ronaldinho feeling unable to perform to his desired level. His brief stint was heavily criticized by fans.

July 2016: Ronaldinho plays for Goa 5′s and becomes Paralympics ambassador

In July 2016, Ronaldinho played for Goa 5’s in the Premier Futsal League in India. After two games, he left to become an ambassador for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

February 2017: Ronaldinho becomes Barcelona ambassador

On February 2, 2017, Barcelona announced that Ronaldinho had signed a 10-year deal to become an ambassador for the club at institutional events.

October 2017: Ronaldinho joins Delhi Dragons

In October 2017, Ronaldinho joined the Delhi Dragons in the Premier Futsal League, scoring 16 goals in eight games.

January 2018: Sid Lowe's comment after Ronaldinho's retirement

In January 2018, Sid Lowe commented on Ronaldinho after his retirement.

January 2018: Ronaldinho confirms retirement from football

On January 16, 2018, Ronaldinho confirmed his retirement from football through his brother/agent, with plans for a celebration after the Russia World Cup. He retired as one of eight players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.