Over the years, as football gained more popularity, it became a hub for sports companies to sell their products using famous players. Nike first signed a deal worth £100 million with the Brazilian Football Confederation in 1996. Ronaldinho soon became their favourite for his flashy skills and carefree attitude.
The Brazilian magician almost got into a legal battle with his former teammate Kevin Prince-Boateng due to the former wearing shoes he was not supposed to. Nike was ready to punish the former Tottenham player for his actions but Ronaldinho came to his rescue and saved him from going bankrupt.
Ronaldinho’s witty remark on Bundesliga
Ronaldinho was asked to sue German midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng as the latter wore shoes one day before the Brazilian was supposed to present them to the world. “No one was allowed to wear them—no one—only him, because he had to present them on Sunday with Barcelona. I went to buy them at the shop, and I played in them on Saturday,” he said.
This mistake by Kevin could have gotten him a fine worth €250,000, but Ronaldinho decided not to do anything about it. The 2002 World Cup winner made fun of the Bundesliga, saying, “The Bundesliga is so small, no one saw it.” It is a good thing that Ronaldinho did not do anything, as he and Boateng became teammates in 2010 at Serie A club AC Milan.
How many UCLs has Ronaldinho won with Barcelona?
Ronaldinho joined La Liga giants FC Barcelona in 2003 after making a move from Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He remained with the club for five years. During this time, the player made 207 appearances and scored 94 goals. He won several titles with the Catalan giants, including the league trophy and the Super Cup.
During his five-year stint at Barca, the Brazilian international also managed to win one UEFA Champions League title for his team in the 2005–06 season. He made 45 appearances in the tournament, getting 26 goals and 24 assists to his name. He played a vital role throughout the competition and became a great asset to his team.
Ronaldinho once even shared his top UCL XI, which had some surprising names! The Brazilian icon hung up his boots in 2018, but the player’s legacy has since lived on, making him one of the best players the world has ever seen.
