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Pretty Good When Spanish football club Barcelona paid US $ 35 million for Ronaldinho last summer, they weren't buying a pretty face. "I am{{U}} (51) {{/U}}," admits the Brazilian superstar (超级明星). "But everyone has got a different kind of beauty. What I{{U}} (52) {{/U}}have is charm." Indeed he has. His buck teeth (龅牙), flowing hair, big smile, and of course his{{U}} (53) {{/U}}skills are always eye-catching on the pitch. The 23-year-old striker(中锋) scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna on March 1. It was Barcelona's sixth win in a row and, thanks to their Brazilian's 10goal contribution,{{U}} (54) {{/U}}looked like a poor season could now end a success. Ronaldinho — full name Ronaldo De Assis Moreira — is one of many South Americans who learned their skills playing in the backstreets before{{U}} (55) {{/U}}them off on the world stage. Great things were{{U}} (56) {{/U}}when Gremio signed him as a seven-year-old, and he soon became friends with Ronaldo, who was then the other young star of Brazilian football. It was Ronaldo who first called him Ronaldinho, which{{U}} (57) {{/U}}Little Ronaldo. He first{{U}} (58) {{/U}}for his country in 1999 but it was at the 2002 World Cup where he showed his real worth, scoring an unbelievable free-kick in Brazil's quarter-final victory{{U}} (59) {{/U}}England. "I have never failed to deliver in big matches," Ronaldinho says, "My game is based on improvisation (即兴表演). Often a forward does not have the time to decide whether to shoot or{{U}} (60) {{/U}}. It is instinct that gives out the orders." While he may not have David Beckham's good looks, Ronaldinho has a{{U}} (61) {{/U}}reputation off the pitch. At former club Paris Saint Germain, which Sold him to Barcelona, he broke{{U}} (62) {{/U}}rules by going out and enjoying the city's nightlife. "Without doubt, Ronaldinho is the most{{U}} (63) {{/U}}player I have ever come across," says former PSG coach Luis Fernandez, "The main{{U}} (64) {{/U}}for any coach is that one player without discipline can hurt the whole team." But Ronaldinho doesn't think he has done anything wrong. "I am just a young person who enjoys {{U}}(65) {{/U}}," he says. |