Ronaldinho’s huge net worth, wild Paraguay prison stint and what he’s doing now | Football | Sport

A new documentary exploring the lavish life of Brazil and Barcelona icon Ronaldinho airs on Thursday. Much like his on-field character, there’s scarcely been a mundane moment off the pitch for one of the most captivating footballers to grace the sport. During his prime years, the 2002 World Cup-winner possessed the capability to transform a match single-handedly.

Regrettably, there were numerous turbulent episodes in the South American icon’s private life as well. From accumulating vast wealth to being imprisoned in a Paraguayan jail, Ronaldinho has live life at lightspeed for more than two decades. Even at 46 years old, the man who championed the philosophy of ‘Joga Bonito’ continues to play legends fixtures and remains an adored figure within the football community. Though not every chapter along the journey has been glamorous for one of the most gifted players of all time. Express Sport examines some of Ronaldinho’s most significant achievements and chapters in his life as the football world reconnects with a titan of the sport.

Ronaldinho’s riches

Obtaining an accurate assessment of Ronaldinho’s earnings and net worth is challenging given his previous financial difficulties. Past reports have indicated the icon has edged towards bankruptcy on multiple occasions, with reports in 2018 claiming he had just £5.24 in his bank account after being instructed to clear unpaid debts amounting to £1.75million.

Despite this, the 2005 Ballon d’Or-winner is believed to have bounced back and reportedly commands a £63m fortune today, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The overwhelming proportion of that sum is thought to have derived from his numerous endorsements throughout the years, having secured profitable deals with brands including Nike, Pepsi and Coca-Cola over time.

It was in 2006 that Ronaldinho allegedly overtook David Beckham as the highest-paid player on the planet. Shortly before the rise of then-Barcelona protégé Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it was O Bruxo (The Wizard) who stood as the most identifiable personality in the sport for a period.

France Football documented at the time that Ronaldinho was collecting approximately £16m per year through his Barca wages and endorsements. He subsequently transferred to AC Milan, where he pocketed roughly £6m in salary, once more boosted by his personal endorsements.

He has grown dependent on personal investments since hanging up his boots in 2015 but continues to generate substantial income by promoting digitally via social media. Ronaldinho commands approximately 120million followers across Instagram, TikTok and X, utilising those platforms to endorse particular brands and products.

In 2019, Ronaldinho had 57 properties in Brazil seized along with his Brazilian and Spanish passports over outstanding taxes and fines. He was penalised nearly £1m over the affair, although that wasn’t the most serious legal episode of his life thus far.

Paraguayan prison stint

In March 2020, the football world was stunned to discover Ronaldinho and his brother, Roberto, had been detained for attempting to enter Paraguay using fraudulent documents. The football legend was travelling to Paraguay to launch his book and participate in a charity event but ended up in prison for 32 days instead.

Following that period, Ronaldinho and his sibling were transferred to a hotel in Asuncion while their case proceeded. Nevertheless, the pair weren’t formally freed from custody in Paraguay until August 2020 and he actually marked his 40th birthday behind bars.

“It was a hard blow, I never imagined that I would go through such a situation,” said the superstar during his time spent incarcerated. “All my life I have sought to reach the highest professional level and bring joy to people with my football.”

During his incarceration, Ronaldinho reportedly proved a popular figure among his fellow inmates and willingly signing autographs. Reports even emerged that he participated in a futsal tournament against fellow detainees, with his side romping to an 11-2 victory in the final.

Ronaldinho and his brother were ordered to pay fines totalling around £150,000 in today’s money upon their release.

Current activity

As previously mentioned, Ronaldinho remains a prominent figure on the legends circuit while actively promoting various products online. He has also immersed himself in the music world, establishing his own collective named ‘Tropa Do Druxo’, which translates to ‘Magic Squad’.

The Brazilian icon’s ‘R10’ brand remains among the most instantly recognisable in football, particularly within his homeland. And through his social media presence, it is clear Ronaldinho continues to relish the lavish lifestyle of an international celebrity.

Through what is believed to be his only child, Joao Mendes, Ronaldinho is also understood to have become a grandfather in recent years. The retired winger had Joao with former dancer Janaina Mendes during his spell at Barcelona.

Mendes currently plies his trade in Hull City’s reserve team, having previously been on the books at Burnley. The young star announced in 2024 that he was expecting his first child and has since reportedly welcomed a daughter.