His spectacular goals, his inventive dribbles, his creativity and smile have toured the world: 20-year-old Ronaldinho Gaucho playing at the Gremio at Porto Alegre is the latest wonder of Brazilian football (soccer).

A junior World Champion in 1997, he shot to fame in June 1999 during the Copa America in Paraguy, the South American Nations’ Cup. He has since then become the leader of the Brazilian Olympic team who hopes to take home the Olympic gold medal, the only title that so far eluded the prestigious football nation. In Rio or Sao Paulo they say he is better than the other Ronald, better than Rivaldo and soon he will be the new king, the new Pélé.

The biggest European clubs are vying for Ronaldinho’s services. Leeds is said to have offered twice the highest ever amount paid for a transfer. But nothing of all this fuss can perturb the new star…