Ronaldinho - Barcelona

Ronaldinho announced himself to the world of football on the biggest stage. By beating David Seaman from 40 yards with a lobbed shot that has since been argued over (was it accidental or intentional?).

Moving to Barcelona in 2003 led to a purple patch for Ronaldinho where as the kingpin of Rijkaard's Barcelona he was unquestioned king of the footballing world. He could do anything - dribble, pass, score, take freekicks and he was always smiling!

Famously in that time, Barcelona beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and the packed stadium, which started the game by booing the Catalan team gave Ronaldinho and his team a standing ovation - almost unheard of in footballing history.

Ronaldinho, Portuguese for "Little Ronaldo," is known in Brazil by the nickname "Gaścho," in order to distinguish him from Ronaldo, who was already called "Ronaldinho" in Brazil. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaścho" and remain simply as Ronaldinho.
Prior to his move to Milan, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, and FC Barcelona, with whom he won his first Champions League in 2006. He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007

Ronaldinho lived an expansive lifestyle and this ultimately led to his drop in form and fitness and he was a mere shadow in the 2006 world up where Brazil underperformed. He has been rediscovering his career in AC Milan from 2008.

Ronaldinho was earmarked as David Beckham's successor at Manchester United but Juan Laporta used him as an election promise and ultimately outbid United to land the Brazillian.

He was world player of the year in 2005, 2006 and European Player of the Year in 2005. Lets hope there is a last hurrah to Ronaldinho's career.