Few footballers have ever captivated audiences quite like Ronaldinho. But as unique as his career was, so too is the time that followed: wild PR stunts, political missteps, and a stint in a Paraguayan prison. Today, the Brazilian icon celebrates his 46th birthday.
For many fans worldwide, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is the most gifted footballer to ever grace a pitch. FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, a Champions League winner with FC Barcelona in 2006, and a World Cup champion with Brazil in 2002 – Ronaldinho, as he is widely known, achieved everything the game had to offer. He became a role model for generations, from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the cinder pitches of Germany.
As a player, Ronaldinho always seemed to float above the game. The ball obeyed him, he did with it as he pleased, caressing it – and always appearing as elegant as if dancing into the sunset at Praia Grande in São Paulo.
This Saturday, the Brazilian celebrates his 46th birthday – and with him, surely, many fans around the globe. But the former brilliance that surrounded Ronaldinho during his playing days has become somewhat tarnished since his retirement in 2018, not least due to several scandals he’s been embroiled in, including a brief period of imprisonment.
As brilliant as the footballer Ronaldinho always was, the man himself appears equally enigmatic and opaque.
Document Forgery, Money Laundering, Fraud: ‘Gaúcho’ Served Time
Since playing his last club match for Fluminense in the summer of 2015, Ronaldinho has made headlines more often for what happened off the pitch. In 2018, he and his brother, Roberto, had their passports revoked after causing environmental damage totaling 2.25 million euros and failing to pay for it. They had constructed a pier for fishing in the middle of a nature reserve.
In March 2020, Ronaldinho attempted to enter Paraguay with a falsified passport – his own having been confiscated – to support a promotional campaign for a health project. The deception was uncovered, and Ronaldinho was arrested for document forgery and spent his 40th birthday in jail.
After a month, he secured his release on a bail of nearly 1.6 million euros and spent the remainder of his detention with his brother under “house arrest” – at a luxury hotel costing 350 euros per night. It was a low point in Ronaldinho’s strange decline.
Fifteen other individuals connected to the Brazilian were likewise arrested during his detention. “This is a serious crime against the interests of the Republic,” said Judge Clara Ruiz Díaz at the time.
The case involved a network of money laundering, fraud, and drug trafficking. The main suspect, Dalia Lopez, was allegedly involved in laundering 400 million US dollars. She was also the one who provided Ronaldinho with the falsified passports and invited him to the promotional campaign.
Lopez fled and was subject to an international arrest warrant, and her relationship with Ronaldinho remains unclear.
Ronaldinho Backs Right-Wing Populists
This peculiar trip to Paraguay was orchestrated, as often happened, by Ronaldinho’s older brother, Roberto, who also serves as his manager. For years, Roberto has dragged the former World Footballer through the world of advertising, with scarcely a PR opportunity seeming too obscure for Ronaldinho. He played in an indoor arena in India, participated in a TV indicate in Saudi Arabia, and promoted his own cryptocurrency, “18kRonaldinho.”
Despite these questionable ventures, Ronaldinho remains a revered figure in Brazil, an artist on the ball to be worshipped. However, even this halo was tarnished when Ronaldinho began publicly supporting Jair Bolsonaro, a figure considered a right-wing populist, in 2018. Bolsonaro went on to become President of Brazil until 2023, and many Brazilians still resent Ronaldinho’s endorsement.
Under the Bolsonaro administration, Ronaldinho was even appointed a “Special Ambassador” for the Ministry of Tourism. Ironically, he didn’t have a valid passport at the time.
New Documentary: Ronaldinho Comes to Streaming Giant
Ronaldinho, of course, can never fully turn his back on football. He currently serves as a team manager for the US version of the modest-sided football league, “Baller League.” His “Midnight Wizards” team won their first game of the new season on Thursday with a 3-0 victory. He can still coach, it seems. Occasionally, the 46-year-vintage also plays in FC Barcelona’s legends team, still sporting his signature headband.
Ronaldinho moved from Porto Alegre to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001, and to Barcelona in 2003, where he was among the best players in the world for years. But his sporting decline began relatively early.
He returned to his homeland at the age of 30, and many suggested his lack of discipline prevented him from having a career like Lionel Messi. But he simply wanted to play. Because no one could play like him. Ronaldinho never worked at football. Elegance was his best teammate – and that still sells well today.
On April 16th, Netflix will release the documentary “Ronaldinho Gaúcho.” The description attempts to capture his essence: “Van Gogh only loved yellow because he hadn’t seen the white of R10’s smile.” Ronaldinho hasn’t lost that smile in 2026.
He grins at his 78 million Instagram followers almost daily – in advertisements, vacation photos, or old highlights from his career, reminding fans of what a genius he was. As if they could forget.
Ronaldinho’s story serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that even the most gifted talents are not immune to the complexities and pitfalls of life after the game. His legacy on the pitch remains secure, but his off-field adventures continue to fascinate and, at times, concern those who remember the magic he brought to football.
What’s next: Ronaldinho will continue his role as team manager in the Baller League, with the next match scheduled for [future date to be determined]. Fans can follow his activities and updates on his Instagram account: [Instagram link if allowed, otherwise omit].
What are your favorite Ronaldinho memories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
