Toothy grin to thrill 2006 summer
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-29 09:46
The Brazilian soccer player, characterized by prominent buck teeth, is surely
not a pinup idol as the Englishman David Beckham, but it is not surprising to
see millions of teenage girls have his posters in their bedrooms.
The toothy grin turns out to be the Barcelona Number 10's trademark, which is
simply mesmerizing both to men and women.
Ronaldinho points at a
drawing of him during the launch of his comic magazine Ronaldinho Gaucho
in Porto Alegre. [Reuters] |
"He isn't only capable of winning games on his own; he keeps our spirits high
because he is always in a good mood," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said of
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known by his nickname of Ronaldinho, which
means "little Ronaldo".
The 26-year-old was always the happy guy either in the club or the national
team.
In a 2002 world cup quarterfinal, the Brazilian midfielder was
controversially sent off midway for fouling England's Danny Mills. To the harsh
decision in a generally clean game, he shrugged shoulders, shook head, and
walked off the pitch with that never fading smile.
Still, Ronaldinho was widely recognized player of that match as he set up a
goal and then scored a stunning 35-meter free kick to help Brazil come from
behind for a 2-1 win.
Now the guy is in his golden days. He embraced an overwhelming victory in
last year's world player voting after receiving 956 points, more than three
times what the runner-up Frank Lampard earned.
No Doubt Ronaldinho deserved the honor. Very Few people could play with the
ball in the way he does.
Audacious with nearly every touch he makes, "Ronnie" does not only scores
beautiful goals on a whim, but dances the samba while doing it. While his job is
to make the net sway, he makes it look good each time.
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