Ronaldinho

The showman

Le milieu de terrain bresilien du FC Barcelone (Espagne), Ronaldinho embrasse le 50e Ballon d'Or de France Football, le 28 novembre 2005 à Paris. Ronaldinho, 25 ans, remporte pour la premiere fois le plus prestigieux des trophees du Football. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE

A unique blend of skills and a knack of conjuring goals from nothing makes Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho the game's most exciting showman, and has earned him in 2005 both the European and World player of the year awards.

Brazil's midfielder Ronaldinho runs with the ball during the final match of the FIFA 2002 World Cup Korea Japan against Germany at International Stadium Yokohama 30 June, 2002, in Yokohama, Japan. AFP PHOTO/ROBERTO SCHMIDT

His greatest achievement to date came at the 2002 World Cup where as part of the so called 'Triple R' strike-force he provided the ammo just behind Ronaldo and Rivaldo as Brazil waltzed to a fifth world title.

Pele, no less, acclaimed him as the best player of the tournament.

His blinding pace had unhinged England's defence in the quarter-finals to set up a goal for Rivaldo, and his audacious free-kick caught out David Seaman to seal a 2-1 victory for Brazil in just one memorable match.

When picking up FIFA's world footballer of the year award in 2004 Ronaldinho, who has scored an average of one goal per two games with Brazil after winning more than 50 caps had this to say: "This was a great victory, particularly as I have never been a great scorer."

Top gear

At club level Ronaldinho finally got the stage he deserved in 2003 when Spain's Barcelona gambled 30 million euros that his blossoming talents would bring them a first Spanish title since 1999.

Barcelona Brazilian Ronaldinho celebrates their Spanish League title after beating Levante in Ciudad de Valencia stadium of Valencia 14 May 2005. AFP PHOTO/ JOSE JORDAN

Barcelona's Brazilian Ronaldinho (L) shoots and scores against Deportivo Coruna during their Spanish league football match at the Riazor Stadium in Coruna, 15 October 2005.

After a lacklustre first six months at the Catalan side, he led an incredible late season surge which saw them just fail to take the title from eventual champions Valencia.

But the following season alongside the excellent Deco and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho spearheaded Barca's parade to a first Spanish title for five years.

FC Barcelona's Brazilian forward Ronaldinho (C) shoots a free kick towards the goal and the AC Milan players during their Champions League group F football match against (C)AC Milan, at San Siro stadium in Milan 20 October 2004. Milan won 1-0. AFP PHOTO/ PATRICK HERZOG

The following 2005-2006 season Ronaldinho spearheaded Barcelona's double assault on the defence of their domestic title and on their Champions League campaign.

Barca cruised to domestic success and in Europe Ronnie was in sublime mood as they beat Chelsea and AC Milan on the way to a final date with Arsenal, who they edged 2-1 in the Paris final.

Going out to the World Cup, Ronaldinho is the most highly rated player in the game.

Brazilian folklore

Brazilian Ronaldinho (L) and Paraguayan Carlos Gamarra vie for the ball during the South American qualifying round match for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, in Asuncion, Paraguay, 31 March 2004. The game finished in a scoreless tie. AFP PHOTO/ADALBERTO TORRES

He was hailed as the new boy-wonder of Brazilian football after starring in Brazil's winning 1997 FIFA Under-17 World Championship campaign, a tournament he finished as top scorer.

He confirmed his burgeoning talent at the 1999 Copa America, scoring an extraordinary individual goal against Venezuela which has now passed into Brazilian folklore.

Barcelona's Ronaldinho De Asis Moreira of Brazil celebrates after scoring against SK Matador Puchov's during UEFA Cup match in Barcelona 15 October 2003. (AFP PHOTO/CESAR RANGEL)

That sparked a protracted move from Gremio Porto Alegre to France's Paris Saint Germain. The Brazilian club protested the move and Ronaldinho spent 6 months out of the game while lawyers argued over his ownership.

He took time to settle in Europe but PSG fans soon saw what all the fuss was about and now so have the rest of the continent and indeed the world.