Netflix Premieres Ronaldinho Documentary, Exploring Football Icon's Rise and Struggles

The three-part series 'Ronaldinho: The One and Only' offers an intimate look at the Brazilian legend's career and personal life.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:34pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of Ronaldinho's smiling face, with his teeth and skin texture captured in dramatic, high-contrast lighting, conceptually representing the intimate, human side of the football icon's story.The documentary explores the emotional highs and lows that defined Ronaldinho's legendary career and personal life.NYC Today

Netflix has premiered a new three-part documentary series titled 'Ronaldinho: The One and Only' that provides an in-depth look at the life and career of Brazilian football icon Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho. The series utilizes never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with Ronaldinho and other football legends to chronicle his meteoric rise from the dirt pitches of Porto Alegre to global stardom at Barcelona and AC Milan, as well as the more turbulent personal struggles he faced.

Why it matters

Ronaldinho is widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential footballers of his generation, known for his dazzling skills, infectious smile, and ability to redefine the 'beautiful game.' This documentary offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the life of a true icon, balancing his professional triumphs with the personal challenges he endured, providing viewers with a multi-dimensional portrait of the man behind the legend.

The details

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Luis Ara, 'Ronaldinho: The One and Only' features a star-studded lineup of football legends, including Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Roberto Carlos, and Carles Puyol, who share their personal insights and reflections on Ronaldinho's impact both on and off the pitch. The series bravely explores the more turbulent chapters of Ronaldinho's life, including his legal troubles, to present a raw and authentic portrayal of the Brazilian icon.

  • The documentary series is now streaming worldwide on Netflix.

The players

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira

Also known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, he is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential players of his generation.

Luis Ara

The acclaimed filmmaker who directed and wrote the 'Ronaldinho: The One and Only' documentary, known for his work on projects like 'Andes Terror' and 'Togo'.

Lionel Messi

Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team, and who reflects on Ronaldinho's impact in the documentary.

Neymar Jr.

Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team, and who also shares his insights on Ronaldinho in the documentary.

Roberto Carlos

Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left-back, and who provides his perspective on Ronaldinho in the documentary.

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What they’re saying

“First of all, it's deeply emotional – you can truly feel the road Ronaldinho and Roberto traveled until they reached the top of the football world.”

— Orkhan Rzayev, Founder of Eleven Kings Game

What’s next

The documentary series 'Ronaldinho: The One and Only' is now available to stream exclusively on Netflix.

The takeaway

This documentary provides a rare, unfiltered look into the life of one of football's most iconic and influential players, balancing Ronaldinho's professional triumphs with the personal struggles he faced, offering viewers a multi-dimensional portrait of the man behind the magic.