Millennials remember him as the absolute icon of the 2000s, the symbol of that footballing era that culminated with the advent of the Messi-CR7 duo. Ronaldinho has long since retired from the pitch, but he remains a champion who made history. A symbol of the first captivating Barcelona of the new millennium, acrobatic and technical like few others, he even captivated Italian fans with his move to AC Milan, albeit near the end of his career.

And let’s not forget that he was also the spearhead of one of the strongest and most talented Brazilian national teams in history. The higher the peak, the greater the fall. After his career, despite his earnings and fame, Ronaldinho has fallen several times, especially away from football. And all of this has become the material for a three-episode docu-series released on Netflix in April of this year (and is already among the most viewed ever).

But how is he doing financially today and, above all, what does he do? Here’s everything we know about his career, net worth, and activities, including his business and private life.

Who is Ronaldinho? Biography and Career

When we talk about Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho, we’re talking bluntly about one of the greatest and most famous footballers in history.

Born in 1980, after a stint at Gremio and PSG, his career exploded with Barcelona, where he won several national and international titles, including two Spanish league titles, two Super Cups, and a Champions League. On a personal level, he also won the Ballon d’Or in 2005. With the national team, he was World Cup winner in 2002 and South American champion in 1999. Those were the years of a stellar Brazil team capable of producing players of the caliber of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and a young Kaká.

As mentioned, we also had the honor of seeing him in action in Italy at AC Milan. The Rossoneri acquired him in 2008 for around €22 million. He remained there for three years before returning to Brazil to play for Flamengo. He retired from football on January 16, 2018.

But it’s his post-career career that has sparked controversy, especially in a negative light. In 2020, Ronaldinho was arrested twice in Paraguay. The first time for crossing the border into Brazil with a false passport; the second time for being found guilty of money laundering along with his brother Roberto. In total, he had to serve a whopping 171 days in detention, between house arrest and actual prison.

And to think I’m talking about someone who for years was voted the highest-paid footballer in the world. Not only because of his then-dizzying salaries (which are almost laughable compared to today, ed.) but also because of his numerous sponsorship deals with some of the world’s most famous brands, which earned him millions and millions of dollars.

Once his football career ended for Ronaldinho, however, the doors of prison opened. Upon his release, his net worth was not affected in the slightest by this failed release; on the contrary, it continued to grow. Let’s see how much does Ronaldinho earn today and thanks to what.

How much does Ronaldinho earn? The Net Worth of the Former Brazilian Champion

As mentioned, Ronaldinho was one of the highest-paid footballers of all time. In 2007, when he was at the peak of his career with Barcelona, he was the highest-paid player in the world. He earned a salary of €8.5 million. A figure that would almost make us smile today compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s approximately €200 million a year, but at the time, it was a completely out-of-this-world standard.

But the Brazilian earned double that amount thanks to sponsorships with Nike, Pepsi, Gatorade, and Sony, reaching €15 million a year. Indeed, his true treasure was never just the pitch: Ronaldinho was among the first to transform his talent into a global brand.

Once he hung up his boots, Ronaldinho also knew how to make good use of his Instagram profile, which now boasts approximately 80 million followers. Numerous analyses at the end of his football career ranked him among the top highest-paid athletes on Instagram with approximately €260,000 per post and over €5 million annually generated from sponsored content alone.

Since his release from prison, Ronaldinho’s net worth has increased thanks to several projects. The French newspaper El Pais highlighted all his recent earnings: between 2020 and 2021, he has already earned approximately €790,000, a figure that represents only a fraction of his earnings.

How? First of all, by promoting the renovations at the Atlético Mineiro stadium. In Belo Horizonte, where he lives and where he was made an honorary citizen, he opened a music studio and even appeared in a music video for a Brazilian group.

His name has also led to the creation of a brand of organic gin called R-One, as well as a wine called Vino de Campeones. He has also been chosen for advertising campaigns such as that of the travel app Buser and has collaborated with betting platforms like Betcris. Not only that, he also founded an esports team, R10, which was later acquired by EA Sports.

Despite past financial difficulties, including debts and assets seized in 2019, his estimated net worth is around €60 million today. This figure has been built largely thanks to sponsorships and the continued monetization of his global image.

What happened to Ronaldinho? Here’s what he does today

Today Ronaldinho lives mainly in Brazil, between Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, but he continues to be a global figure, always on the move. He’s no longer the number 10 who enchanted Camp Nou, but he remains a living football icon, often featured in legendary matches and international events where fans still flock to see, even if only for a few moments, the magic of “Joga Bonito.”

At the same time, he has built a second career in entertainment and entrepreneurship. He’s active in the music world with the “Tropa Do Bruxo” project, a collective that blends urban culture and entertainment, and continues to perform at exclusive events across Europe and South America.

The recent Netflix documentary series brought him back into the global spotlight, revealing not only the champion but also the man behind the legend, through his downfalls and rebirths. This story has rekindled interest in him, making him a top-tier media figure even today. Indeed, a legend.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Quanto guadagna Ronaldinho? Ecco il suo patrimonio (e cosa fa oggi)