Netflix documentary revisits Ronaldinho’s remarkable life and legacy
A new Netflix documentary, “Ronaldinho: The One and Only”, offers an in-depth look at the life and career of Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho. Released in April ahead of the World Cup, the three-part documentary traces his journey from a poor neighbourhood in Porto Alegre to becoming one of the most admired footballers in history.Born Ronaldo de Assis Moreira in 1980, Ronaldinho lost his father at the age of eight. The documentary features accounts from family members who recall the financial hardship the family endured. Football, they say, became the young boy’s only refuge. By the age of 13, he had already attracted attention by reportedly scoring 23 goals in a single match, and he soon joined Brazilian club Grêmio to begin his professional career.One of the most compelling sections of the documentary covers his time at Barcelona, where he arrived at a moment of deep uncertainty for the club. His presence transformed not only the team’s results but its entire spirit. In 2005, he won the Ballon d’Or. Former teammates interviewed in the film describe his influence as infectious, noting that he brought the same joy to training sessions as he did to match days.The documentary also sheds light on his relationship with Lionel Messi, who was a shy teenager when he first entered Barcelona’s first team in 2004. According to the film, it was Ronaldinho who first welcomed Messi into the dressing room and helped build his confidence. Ronaldinho also provided the assist for Messi’s first professional goal. Several analysts featured in the documentary argue that Ronaldinho’s mentorship played a significant role in shaping Messi’s early development at the club.An unexpected historical detail also features in the film. In 2003, Manchester United came close to signing Ronaldinho before he chose Barcelona instead. The vacancy that decision left at United was subsequently filled by an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.The documentary gives considerable space to the 2002 World Cup, in which Ronaldinho was part of a celebrated attacking trio alongside Rivaldo and Ronaldo. His free-kick against England, which has long prompted debate over whether it was a deliberate shot or a cross, is revisited as one of the tournament’s defining moments. Brazil went on to lift the trophy.The film does not, however, limit itself to celebrating his achievements. It addresses the fitness struggles and disciplinary concerns that marked the later stages of his career, as well as his arrest in Paraguay in 2020 over the use of a fraudulent passport. The filmmakers present these episodes as part of a broader examination of how global fame can complicate a person’s private life.The documentary’s central argument is that Ronaldinho endures in public memory not because of his trophies but because of the manner in which he played. At a time when football was becoming increasingly defined by tactics and commerce, he offered spectators something rarer — the sight of a man playing the game with genuine delight.
