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The 2002 world champion who played for Barcelona and Milan has a 25-hectare site in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul where he hosts barbecues and informal soccer games away from any cameras.

Written by Bruno Teles
Published on 22/04/2026 at 19:12
Updated on 22/04/2026 at 19:13
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Ronaldinho Gaúcho maintains a 25-hectare farm in Eldorado do Sul (RS) with a soccer field, pool, and space for gatherings, where he hosts barbecues and pickup games with friends and former teammates of the star who enchanted the world at Barcelona and Milan.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s farm occupies 25 hectares in the municipality of Eldorado do Sul, in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, on a property surrounded by vegetation and silence that is a far cry from the frantic routine of the stadiums where the world champion spent more than two decades. At 46 years old, the former player who took Brazilian football to the top of the world in the 2002 World Cup and delighted fans at PSG, Barcelona, and Milan divides his time between professional commitments and stays at this gaucho refuge, where the usual programming revolves around two rituals: barbecue on the grill and soccer on the field. The farm was designed to accommodate large groups with all the necessary infrastructure, so that no one needs to leave the property to find what they need.

The choice to maintain the farm in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, rather than in a penthouse in a metropolis or a condominium abroad, reveals the connection that Ronaldinho preserves with his gaucho roots. The star was born in Porto Alegre and began playing professional football at Grêmio before building an international career, and returning to the region where it all began represents a reconnection with the identity that global fame did not erase. Visitors describe the environment as relaxed and free of formalities, with the owner mingling among the guests with the same naturalness as the smile that has become a trademark on fields around the globe.

What Ronaldinho’s farm offers in Eldorado do Sul

Ronaldinho Gaúcho lives on a 25-hectare farm in Eldorado do Sul (RS) with a soccer field and space for barbecues. The star traded the spotlight for nature.

The property was set up to function as a self-sufficient community center. The exclusive soccer field is the heart of the farm, a space where Ronaldinho gathers former colleagues, childhood friends, and visitors for informal matches that recreate, without competitive pressure, the magic that the star displayed on the biggest stages of world football. The pickup games in the gaucho interior have become a tradition among regular attendees, and the list of participants includes names that shone in World Cups and European championships.

The built area complements the lawn. The site features a large space for parties used for regular gatherings, a pool surrounded by gardens, wooded extensions that ensure privacy, and separate residences for guests and the maintenance team that keeps everything running throughout the entire year. Barbecue is not just a menu option: it is the central axis of gatherings at the site, a southern tradition that Ronaldinho has transformed into a sacred ritual of his receptions in Eldorado do Sul.

Why Ronaldinho chose life in the countryside instead of an urban mansion

While many former elite athletes invest in high-end properties in the country’s financial centers, Ronaldinho opted for hectares of nature where the goal is not to display wealth, but to coexist with close people in an unpretentious environment. The site serves as an extension of the former player’s personality: the same charisma that won over locker rooms and fans now manifests in the open door for anyone who wants to drop by for a barbecue or a casual soccer game on the property in southern Brazil. The atmosphere of the place is described by visitors as the opposite of what one would expect from a global sports icon.

The property also represents a choice for a different pace of life. After decades of training camps, international flights, daily practices, and the constant pressure of the spotlight, the site offers Ronaldinho something that no football salary can buy: unstructured time. The days in Eldorado do Sul follow the rhythm of the southern countryside, where haste has no place and hours stretch between conversations, music, and the aroma of meat slowly roasting, far from any commitment other than enjoying the company of those nearby.

What Ronaldinho’s countryside home says about life after professional football

The case of the world champion reflects a pattern that repeats among sports idols: after retirement, many seek environments that offer the opposite of what they experienced during their careers. If football required constant public exposure, weekly travel, and a routine meticulously controlled by coaching staff, the site in Eldorado do Sul provides privacy, geographical stability, and the freedom to organize the day as one pleases. For Ronaldinho, the 25 hectares serve as an antidote to the life he led between the ages of 18 and 35.

The rural property in the southern countryside has established itself as the address that best translates this new phase. The journey that started in the fields of Porto Alegre, passed through the pitches of Camp Nou, San Siro, and Parc des Princes, and earned a World Cup for Brazilian football, now unfolds at a completely different pace: that of the barbecue roasting slowly, the casual game that starts when everyone arrives, and the silence that only the site, 30 kilometers from the capital, can offer.

And you, did you know that Ronaldinho lives in a countryside property in RS? Do you think this lifestyle suits the star or did you expect something different? Leave your opinion in the comments.

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Bruno Teles

Falo sobre tecnologia, inovação, petróleo e gás. Atualizo diariamente sobre oportunidades no mercado brasileiro. Com mais de 7.000 artigos publicados nos sites CPG, Naval Porto Estaleiro, Mineração Brasil e Obras Construção Civil. Sugestão de pauta? Manda no brunotelesredator@gmail.com

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