Top 5 Brazilian footballers of all time

3. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho is one of the greatest and most popular players ever.

Maybe the best on the ball player the world has ever seen, Ronaldinho's extravagant dribbling and skill made him perhaps the most liked football player of the mid-2000s. Winner of the World Cup and many other titles, Ronaldinho's career peaked in 2005-06 when he was crowned as the best player in the world.

He is the embodiment of the Brazilian footballing spirit and his footballing style reflected both his personality and joy for the game. Whereas Zinedine Zidane's quiet and reserved nature was reflected in his simple yet elegant skill, Ronaldinho's vibrant personality was reflected in his samba like dribbling prowess.

Ronaldinho helped kickstart the renaissance of FC Barcelona who had fallen by the wayside in the early 2000s, into the footballing giants they once were, ushering a period of unrivalled dominance over Spain ever since. Interestingly, his footballing peak coincided with the rise of a young upstart called Lionel Messi, with many arguing that Ronaldinho's mentorship of the young Argentine was essential in shaping his career.

Ronaldinho was perhaps most known for his dribbling prowess and creativity, he was no slouch in front of goal, however. Despite not playing as a striker, Ronaldinho scored over 300 goals for club and country. His international career peaked in 2002 where he played a pivotal role in Brazil's successful World Cup campaign. Alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo, Ronaldinho formed one of the greatest attacking tridents of all time, with 2 goals and assists apiece in the tournament.