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Despite Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho’s illustrious career, he has struggled with financial problems at times and does not have a large net worth.
Ronaldinho’s net worth
Ronaldinho, born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is a living soccer legend. He became famous primarily for winning the World Cup with the Brazilian national team in 2002 and for his successes with FC Barcelona, with whom he won the Champions League and two Spanish championships.
- Ronaldinho has earned considerable sums of money throughout his career thanks to his soccer successes. In 2006, his annual salary was around 23 million euros. Through his work as a professional soccer player and lucrative advertising contracts, including with Nike and EA Sports, his net worth grew to 78 million euros at one point. However, the figures relating to his net worth may vary, as they are only estimates.
- However, Ronaldinho is also known for his extravagant lifestyle. In 2018, it was reported that he only had €6 left in his account due to debts. The Brazilian government had previously fined him €2 million for illegally building sugar mills in a nature reserve with his brother.
- Despite his financial difficulties, Ronaldinho still owns several properties around the world, including a luxury villa in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, worth around €10.5 million. He has an impressive fan base of over 76 million followers on Instagram (as of August 2024) and reportedly earns up to $250,000 per sponsored post.
- Ronaldinho has also made money from dubious business deals. For example, he promoted questionable cryptocurrencies on social media, some of which no longer exist today.
Ronaldinho’s career
Ronaldinho began his remarkable career in the youth teams of his hometown Porto Alegre. His extraordinary talent was evident from an early age, quickly leading him to the professional leagues and ultimately to international fame.
- His older brother Roberto Assis, who was already playing for FC Sion, helped him get started in professional soccer. Between 1993 and 1994, Ronaldinho completed a language stay at FC Sion and played in the U14 team.
- In 1998, Ronaldinho signed his first professional contract with Grêmio Porto Alegre. Four years later, he moved to Europe to join Paris Saint-Germain, where he quickly caused a sensation and won the hearts of fans with his spectacular goals. After a mixed second season, he announced his departure.
- Ronaldinho enjoyed his most successful period from the 2003/2004 season onwards at FC Barcelona. He joined the Catalan club for a transfer fee of around €30 million and scored 15 goals in 32 games in his first season. The following season, he was voted World Footballer of the Year and led Barcelona to the Spanish championship.
- After Barcelona, Ronaldinho played for AC Milan and various Brazilian clubs. He finally ended his active career in 2018. Despite his sporting successes and high income, the soccer player repeatedly struggled with financial difficulties.
