I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.
I have the chance to do for a living what I like the most in life, and that’s playing football. I can make people happy and enjoy myself at the same time.
A lot of the moves I make originate from futsal. It’s played in a very small space, and the ball control is different in futsal. And to this day my ball control is pretty similar to a futsal player’s control.
My game is based on improvisation. Often a forward does not have the time to think too much. You have a second, rarely more, to decide whether to dribble, shoot or pass to the right or left. It is instinct that gives the orders.
If you’re playing for five hours you don’t want to score goals all the time and I loved dribbling. I could score a goal, but I preferred to dribble.
I helped Messi and I know he will do the same with Neymar.
Henry is a beautiful player and has got complete technique, I adore watching him. I respect him very much as a man and as a footballer. He reminds me of myself.
I think each player has an individual style. Each is concerned with giving the best to his team, and I think my best talent is dribbling and setting up goal situations, giving an assist or deceiving one of the other team’s players.
Ashley Cole is a fantastic defender. I have seen him keep the best players in the world quiet.
I would like my Dad to be alive so he could see what I am.
The toughest opponents for me are the defenders who are tough in the way they play – where you can’t see a way through.
My heroes were always soccer players.
My best has to be for Barcelona against Villarreal in 2006 – that is the one I am asked most about, and it is the one I am most proud of. Xavi chipped the ball to me, I chested it down, twisted and hit an overhead kick. It was the final goal in a 4-0 win.
When I got to the senior national team, there was another Ronaldo, so they started calling me Ronaldinho because I was younger.
No one has nicer teeth than me. Why would anyone laugh at my lovely teeth?
Of course, I follow Bollywood. In fact, it’s widely followed in Brazil.
I still have a video of my father, which I watch before every game I play for Brazil. It gives me strength, makes me determined.
Brazil goes into every World Cup expecting to win – so when it is in Brazil it is expected even more. You can’t understand what the World Cup means to our country.
It doesnt change much for me really and my motivation remains the same – to create a beautiful future with Barcelona, winning many titles.
I am passionate about music – and people think because I go to places where I can enjoy music I have to be partying. It isn’t true.
I have never imagined doing anything other than football, but now, thinking about it coldly, if I hadn’t been a footballer, I would have been a musician.