Netflix's New Ronaldinho Documentary Reminds Us Just How Good He Was

Published Apr 20, 2026, 5:33 PM EDT

For anyone who watched soccer in the mid-2000s – and even for those who didn’t – the documentary is unquestionably one of the new Netflix releases most worth binging this week, as it takes us right to the heart of Ronaldinho’s story. The series shares various intriguing insights from the man himself, as well as those who know him best.

Whereas the Apple TV+ documentary Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend leaves out key chapters in its subject’s journey, Ronaldinho: The One and Only touches on almost everything, albeit in fairly general terms. What’s more, it includes interviews with many of Ronaldinho’s most celebrated teammates, including Lionel Messi himself.

Netflix's New Ronaldinho Doc Is A Reminder Of Just How Great A Player He Was

Ronaldinho: The One and Only deserves pride of place among the best TV shows about soccer, given how well it charts the story of one of the game’s greatest players. Moments of football magic are peppered throughout the documentary, including the majority of Ronaldinho’s most famous goals.

The series is a welcome reminder of how special the Brazilian was in his prime, both for his national team and for FC Barcelona. Although he burned brightest for just a handful of years in the mid-noughties before fading quickly amid reports of unprofessional behavior, Ronaldinho was utterly untouchable at his best.

As an attacking midfielder and left-sided forward, he was the source of countless hours of entertainment for fans around the world. A fearsome dribbler, it often felt as though the ball was glued to Ronaldinho’s foot as he ran. There’s a reason why Lionel Messi cites him as a primary inspiration when he first reached Barcelona’s first team.

Ronaldinho could be as clinical as he was captivating, though, producing some of the most significant match-winning moments in the history of his club and country. The documentary features the goal he scored to beat England at the 2002 World Cup, in addition to the Clásico game in which he singlehandedly tore Real Madrid apart, drawing applause from opposition supporters.

Ronaldinho Was The Last All-Time Great Soccer Player Before Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo

It’s easy to forget what an extraordinary footballer Ronaldinho was, because his glory days immediately preceded the domination of the world game by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who redefined what was possible on a football pitch between them. Ronaldinho never quite reached the unparalleled levels of global superstardom that Ronaldo and Messi have now attained.

From Messi’s every move being tracked by throngs of Inter Miami supporters, to Ronaldo’s rumored Fast and Furious 11 cameo, these two sporting icons are seemingly ubiquitous, and even catch the attention of those with no interest in soccer. Yet, it’s important to remember that without Ronaldinho, there would be no Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

A two-time FIFA World Player of the Year recipient who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the 2006 UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona, Ronaldinho was generally regarded as the best player in the world between 2003 and 2007. During this period, he introduced the world to Lionel Messi, by setting up the Argentine’s first top-level goal.

He’s also the reason Cristiano Ronaldo was able to launch his career at Manchester United. When he decided against joining the English club, opting for Barcelona instead, he left a berth on the wing at United which Ronaldo – an unknown 18-year-old at the time, duly filled.

As we see throughout Ronaldinho: The One and Only, this legend of Brazilian football always played with a smile on his face, enjoying the camaraderie with his teammates on and off the field, and embodying the true essence of sport. He’s the last bastion of a simpler time, when soccer greatness was measured in sheer entertainment rather than raw numbers.