Ronaldinho (Gaucho), the Brazilian Soccer Star

What makes Ronaldinho one of the most successful soccer players in world today? Is it his skills with the soccer ball? His uncommon techiniques to impress the fans with the way he dribbles around the soccer field? The fact that he has appeared in many Nike commercials? His good looks? Or the fact that he has won many "World Player of the Year" awards?

The answer is: all of the above, and more. Ronaldinho, or as he is known in Brazil, Ronaldinho Gaucho, has been in the public eye since 1999, but it wasn't until around 2002, when this great Brazilian star "got his break". Since then, the star of Ronaldinho Gaucho has only been getting bigger and bigger through the years.

Ronaldinho first became famous in Brazil under the name Ronaldinho (little Ronaldo) Gaucho (meaning he is from the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul), in order not to be confused with another Brazilian soccer star, Ronaldo (formally known as Ronaldinho in Brazil). However, when Ronaldo moved to Europe, he became well known only as Ronaldo, allowing Ronaldinho Gaucho to drop the "Gaucho" and be well known only as Ronaldinho.

In his adult life, Ronaldinho has been in three major soccer teams including Brazil's Gremio, France's Paris Saint-Germain, and Spain's always great Barcelona.

He is also one of a very few number of players to ever "play at every footballing level, for he has played at under 15, under 17, under 20, under 23, and senior level. He made his first ever appearance for Brazil playing against Scotland on 7 March1995 in an under 15s match, Brazil lost the game 1-0." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldinho. He was also part of the first Brazilian team to ever win the under 17s championship, which took place in Egypt, 1997.

He then went on to become a part of the under 20s Brazilian team that played on the Fifa World Cup in 1999, and eventually made his first appearance in Brazil's national team that same year in the 1999 Copa America, in which Brazil won.

Since then, Ronaldinho has collected many awards such as "FIFA World Player of the Year" in 2004 and 2005, "World Soccer Player of the Year", also in 2004 and 2005, "FIFPro World Player of the Year" in 2005 and 2006, "UEFA Clube Footballer of the Year" in 2005 and 2006, and many many others.

Ronaldinho's personality has also helped him become the star he is today. Even with top name awards under his belt, he still remains a very humble, down to earth guy. When asked about his status as the number one soccer player in the world, he simply said: "I don't even feel I'm the best at Barça." (Barcelona), FourFourTwo magazine.

So there we go, Ronaldinho has clearly made his mark in the world of soccer, and continues to be a great star representing Brazil in a world wide level. What does the future have in store for Ronaldinho? His contract with Barcelona ends in 2010, other than that, all we have to do is simply just keep watching, as this boy from Rio Grande do Sul keeps re-writing soccer history.