World Cup Spread Betting - Give African Fans a Chance

What is the point of holding a World Cup on the continent of Africa if the people of Africa can't get access to the matches? Ticket sales on the continent by FIFA's own admission have been poor to say the least. While around 1million tickets have been sold in South Africa its self only around 40,000 tickets have been sold to fans in the other African countries. I think you'll agree that is very poor considering there are around 3 million tickets on offer. While prices in South Africa were reduced the rest of Africa had to pay the same price as everyone else.

With prices starting at £54 for the cheapest tickets this may well be beyond the reach of the average African. FIFA's decision to sell tickets over the internet would have also caused problems as internet access in Africa would be severely limited to the ordinary fan, as would access to a credit card to make the transaction. With 6 teams on show at the finals from Africa, 40,000 is a pretty poor turnout but once again that is not the fault of the fans, it is the fault of FIFA. They are now saying they will have to get their house in order for Brazil 2014. We are right with you on that one Mr Blatter and Co. Get it sorted.

Enough ranting for one day, back to other news on World Cup spread betting. It looks like Cesare Prandelli is set to take over from Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup finishes. Prandelli is currently the longest serving coach of any in seria A having been in charge at Fiorentina since 2005.

In transfer news today, Franck Ribery is set to stay with Bayern Munich for a further 4 years according to German paper Bild. Man City are set to up their bid for James Milner to 30m from 20m but with Chelsea looking to enter the race, the lure of the Champions League may sway his decision if he decides to leave Villa. Steven Gerrard is said to be fed up with manager Rafael Benitez, and let's face it most people probably are, and is on his way if the right offer comes in. Should have gone in 2005 and not got all sentimental over winning the Champions League. He would probably have a lot more trophies in his cabinet. There are no great signs of Liverpool doing anything in the near future.

Lots of South American players in the news today with Ancelotti keeping an eye on Kaka, Man Utd considering a18m bid for Luis Fabiano, and also having a hands off warning placed on Sergio Aguero. Alex Ferguson has said that Berbatov is not for sale and that he will be there next season. Juventus, AC Milan and Wolfsburg are all said to be tracking the Bulgarian striker. Benitez says he wants to bring Raul to Anfield. Let's face it Rafa, if you're not going to be there best leave it to the new broom.

And finally you can now kit yourself out in England's official World Cup suit. Get yourself down to Marks & Sparks and take a look. It is said to be a throw back to the styling of 1966 and was designed by a Saville row tailor instead of some flashy designer. Won't you look smart down the pub with all your mates, saying things like "excuse me referee. I think that may have made a mistake just there" and "Does your good lady wife spend a lot of time out of the house in the evenings".

This is a site giving news relating to World Cup 2010 in South Africa containing news and views on everything football.
http://www.worldcupspreadbetting.com

Good Times For The Brazilian Economy

China is not the only country receiving so much attention among the world's emerging markets. While this country may have a larger profile as the world's second largest economy, Brazil is likewise making waves in the news headlines.

It is among the fastest growing markets today, bucking global trends and remaining resilient in the face of a global financial crisis.

While the developed world is in the midst of uncertain times, Brazil's banking system and its economy in general are receiving accolades for its robustness. One such accolade was given by the Financial Stability Forum last 2009 in Basel.

The Eurozone crisis and the slowdown in the US may temper the growth of this BRIC economy, but its fundamentals remain in-tact and poised for continued growth. To illustrate this, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted a year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.6 percent for 2012. In contrast, the financing institution predicted growth rates of 1.8 percent for the US, 1.7 percent for Japan, 0.6 percent for the UK, and even a contraction of 0.5 percent in the Eurozone.

Brazil is rich in resources as it, along with the rest of South America, is considered to be the world's breadbasket. The presence of what is believed to be about 50 billion barrels of pre-salt offshore reserves near the southern coast of Brazil may also set the country up to be a major exporter of oil and gas. Potential oil discoveries are also currently being investigated in the northeastern side of the country.

Economic Development And Growth

More specific signs of economic development are also present.

Tourism in Brazil continues to be a significant source of income for the South American country, which enjoys enticing beaches and 290 days of sunshine all throughout the year. Brazil also has a large number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beaten only by five other countries in the list of 130 territories evaluated by the UN World Tourism Organization.

Likewise, major sporting events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics have ushered in billions of dollars in infrastructure investments that would help the country's economy become larger in the long run through tourist inflow and job creation.

Brazil has also made extra efforts to liberalize its property markets and allow foreign entities to get access to them. Laws have been significantly relaxed in order to accommodate landlords and the real estate industry and they've simplified their labyrinthine sets of laws that was only stalling further growth.

As a result, analysts are now seeing an unprecedented rise in property prices, which has then positively affected the construction and mortgage sectors. Exame Magazine reports that apartment prices across the nation have risen by 24.7% in April 2011 as compared to the same month a year before.

Even then, Brazilians are still relatively debt-free. Secured lending in Brazil is only equivalent to about 5% of its GDP. Meanwhile, the US has 68%; Mexico, 11%; and Spain, 45%.

Leveraging real estate properties through mortgage finance remains a difficulty for most foreign investors interested in the real estate market. However, this is rapidly changing with the introduction of developer financing programs and foreign property investment mortgage products.

Search over 600+ Brazilian properties; houses, apartments, farms, land and development opportunities to make an informed Brazilian property investment. Brazil Bahia Property are the largest property agents in the Bahia region and cover all areas of the Brazilian property market.

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Brazil holidays on the rise for international tourists

Rio de Janeiro is growing in popularity, at least according to the number of international tourists to decide a Brazil holiday. According to a study by the Brazilian Association of tourism (Embratur called) increased the number of international tourists who 2010 took a trip to Brazil in 8 percent compared with the previous year.

The exact number of international tourists in 2010 was 1.61 million visitors compared to 1.49 million visitors in 2001. This corresponds to an increase of 120,000 people. It is also the highest number of foreign tourists to Brazil in the last five years visit. The numbers were significantly higher during Carnival, which takes place in March. Brazil tourism Secretary said 131 percent more foreign tourists during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro visited, as expected, and that next year they expect an increase of 300,000 tourists for the rock in Rio Festival. This is famous for the biggest music festival in the world are.

You expect a journey even more people to book to Brazil because Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2016 host will be. You will host the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2014.

So people get to travel especially to Brazil and Rio de Janeiro so why decide? Well, not Rio bear nicknamed "Marvelous city" for nothing. The massive city sits next to pristine beaches and is surrounded by tropical coasts along the southeastern coast of Brazil. It is the second largest city of the country and the capital. It is also where is located the famous and massive Christ of the Saviour status, of the new seven wonders of the world. This statue sits Corcovado Hill. A further large hills in the vicinity of Rio to visit is Sugarloaf Mountain, which can be reached by cable car. The Summit is m. 1.299 m above, is surrounded in tropical vegetation and offers a wide view over the city.

The best beach close to Ipanema beach is ideal for swimming, and Tan during the day and is a great happening place for nightlife after dark. The coastal area known as Copacabana has many good restaurants and drinking places to offer.

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle for a while, you can in the national Tijuca forest, the world's largest urban forest, it includes nearly 20 miles. This is a great place to walk and admire the juxtaposition of modern miracles with natural wonders.

This article about Brazil tourism was from an expert in Brazil holiday written in Brazil for less, Brazil travel packagesspecialized.

Cultural Events In Rio

Things to Do in Brazil: Cultural Events in Rio

Brazil is home to world renowned parties and celebrations that take place all year round. Each year, the city of Rio de Janeiro hosts some 3 million international tourists and they all contribute year round to the festive mood and celebrations. The following is a list of some of the best festivals that are amongst the most amazing things to do in Brazil.

New Year's Eve

Ever New Year's eve, about 2 and a half million people get together at the world famous Copacabana beach, one of the most laid back and party going suburbs in the entire world, to celebrate the ushering in of the new year. The crowd dresses mostly in white and the celebrations last all night at hundreds of different shows and events which take place all along the beach and throughout the streets of the area. Chilled champagne is served to the public all night and at the stroke of midnight the bottles are shaken up and sprayed all over people. There is also a stunning fireworks display every year.

Carnival

This festivity dates far back to when the Portuguese brought the tradition with them from Europe. It takes place before Lent in February and in Brazil is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, African and Indigenous traditions. Traditionally parades take place throughout the cities of Brazil. Multicolored floats are decorated and there is dancing in the street at all hours.

The Cordao do Bola Preta is a parade that goes through the center of Rio de Janeiro. About half a million people attend this parade daily and it lasts for several days. The world famous Samba School also parades through the streets. The Carmelitas band holds a parade in the hills of Santa Teresa, which offer stunning views with the revelry. Finally, the Banda de Ipanema, which is the most traditional of the parades and is also the most frequented by Brazil's gay population (Ipanema is famous for its spectacular drag queens).

Sports Events

With Rio de Janeiro being selected as the host of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, in the upcoming years and during this special event there will be no end of things to do for sports fans who are visiting the city. Rio has also been selected as the host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The finale will be held at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil was also host of the XV Pan American Games in 2007.

The most popular sport in Brazil is soccer. It is home to many world famous clubs and players. Apart from soccer, tourists to Brazil can add the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix, the world beach volleyball finals, the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, the WCT/WQS Surfing championships, the Rio Champions Cup tennis tournament to their list of things to do.

Dance, sport and martial arts are all very popular in Brazil. So is beach football, beach volleyball, surfing, kitesurfing, sailing, horse racing and yachting.

Brazil is an amazing country and is cleaning itself up for the Olympic and World Cup in 2016. Matt has visited the country many tips and has excellent tips on visiting Brazil and it's most popular destination, Rio De Janeiro.

FIFA 11 - a new World Cup experience

Football was the most popular sports in the world and has the greatest fans across the planet after. Different known leagues such as the English League, Spanish and American League held almost all continents. FIFA (Federation International de Football Association) World Cup is known as the most prestigious tournament in the world of football takes place once every four years. It has become known the largest gathering of soccer teams all over the world. There are 119 football enthusiasts participating countries that compete with each other become the best football team in the world.

FIFA 2010 took place had over World Cup in South Africa for a long time, and everyone had a great time her life, cheering for their favorite football teams. However, can not football fans all over the world still about getting with the FIFA World Cup fever and fans who 2014 can't wait for the World Cup in Brazil; FIFA 11 will start soon.

FIFA 11 like FIFA 10 is a football game, and it is already the 19th title in the FIFA series of video games by electronic arts EA Sports. This would be one of the popular football video game series, which was rumored to be released in September 2010.

With this latest FIFA football 11 players experience soon a great reinvention on the authenticity of the player, whether it on and turning off the ball. It has a new feature called personality +, allows the lucid differentiations of the player and it looks really enter the individual capabilities of the characters, so that it looks like their favorite player is and runs on the football field. A further breakthrough in this game is that it can distinguish a very sophisticated database, the players. Each player is programmed, attributes have skill-set over 36 and 57 trains and these can all be evaluated and evaluated by the database.

FIFA 11 is also a cool feature that determines that pass accuracy by controlling ability of the players on the pad and the unique skills that the player has. This function is called the Pro pass. It provides also a very worthwhile system passed. In addition, the player can also play as a Manager, player or the latest addition to the player manager is because the Manager mode, which was a feature on some previous FIFA football series with the career mode has been replaced.

Although football fans now strut favorite players their dribbling and skills on the various leagues are those of the Premier League in the UK or La Liga de Espanya running in Spain, football fans can still a World Cup experience with the new FIFA 11 football series with personality + and Pro have passed.

Get the latest information on A-League News from reliable sources. If it a livelier Football League at the moment, it is the Hyundai A-League.

Young age and World Cup

The 736 players in South Africa, to compete from all over the world for the world trophy are only 7 for 20 years. Generally, a football player reached his maturity, when they are between 25-35. It is not so easy for a young child to make to the elite level of football. a?¨

However the two youngest players in the tournament could be facing in South Africa 2010, from if they include their trainers in their line-ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (MF), Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), both 18 and are ready to be on the pitch on 19 June for what could be as "The Clash of the Kids". Eriksen, Â?¨born is 13 days later as Aboubakar, the baby of the World Cup. He plays for AJAX, a Dutch club with a glorious history. Cameroonian child is still at home play for the local Cotona?¨Sport (there is no or wrong here.) Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. (A Extraa?¨ "t" on the logo does not have his club).

Speaking of children, some of the managed convince their soccer moms let larger adventure to go once they their 17th birthday celebrated. The youngest player ranked in the World Cup is always to Norman Whiteside. 17, When he was part of the Northern Ireland squad was ' 1982 Cup to Yugoslavia in Spain. Final score: 0-0. The other child, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, used his youth, unmatched capabilities and God-given football wisdom, which him on the throne of the world of football driven. I'll tell you about one of the biggest: the King, Brazil's Pele, the youngest player ever, a final and the youngest a champion remains to play. He scored twice against to Brazil a 5: 2-to give victory over Sweden and his first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Their very own Landon Donovan received the FIFA best young player award at the World Cup 2002 in Korea and Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the manufacturer of one of the best soccer on display today. There is another record for the United States: the youngest captain. History says that this distinction to Tony Meola, goes a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the United States with a view to a heart break 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy was ' 1990 Czechoslovakia.

It is not so easy, but it is not impossible to bring the world to its knees, if you are so young. Next time, Brazil ' 2014, a few of you are 17 or less and it will come as a surprise when your skills increase the squad will be U.S. there. But in the meantime would better enjoy the summer, make some pennies reflect Burger, and do your homework (don't forget to eat your cereal, drop, that sugary soda!).

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Rio De Janeiro Is A City Of God

"God created the world in six days and on the seventh day, he created Rio de Janeiro"

Brazilians sayings

Rio is an awe-inspiring city where impossibly steep granite mountains rise from the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand. Brash skyscrapers vie for space with impeccable colonial buildings, and lush forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.

Its diverse cultures and people live in varying degrees of wealth or poverty. Rich exclusive areas stand in stark contrast and close proximity to the slum areas or favelas. But no matter what their background or economic standing, the Rio's residents are characterized by a passion and enthusiasm for life.

The cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city) revels in life, with the beach, football, samba and Carnival the principal diversions. High above all this fun and frivolity are Rio's ever-present landmarks - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the summit of Hunchback Mountain and Sugarloaf with its historic cable car.

As well as these twin icons, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment - enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.A natural port of the Guanabara Bay in southeast Brazil, the city was founded by the Portuguese on 1 January 1502. They named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth. Since then, it has grown to a city of over 6 million people, with a further 5 million in the greater metropolitan area.

Migrants find that the city has more than its fair share of social problems. Attempts have been made to curtail crime, but visitors should remain alert to petty thieves.

In the 1960's, the capital was moved from Rio to Brasilia, in an effort to decentralize the power found in Rio. All the jobs associated with such political power transferred to the interior of the country. This, along with a slowing economy and increased economic pressure from Sao Paulo, Rio is trying to redefine its role in the Brazilian economy.

Beachfront property in Rio de Janeiro is by far the most popular investment and give very good rental returns of 8-10% per annum. There is a developed Brazil property market (http://www.brazil-property.co.uk/) and properties in Rio de Janeiro offer beachfront property in Copacabana beach and Ipanema beach. Property in Ipanema offers stunning views to the Atlantic Ocean. Rio is visited by millions of international tourists land here each year, making the buy to let property investments very realistic indeed.

From a record low in 2002, the Brazilian Real has doubled in value against the US Dollar and rallied against other world currencies, so the country is not as cheap as it used to be. However, Brazil is still affordable and gaining in popularity - 2007 saw a 15% increase in visitors, mainly headed for Rio. With Brazil set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2014, that trend is likely to continue.

In Rio's summer (December to February), temperatures regularly reach 40ºC (104ºF) or more. When the heat is on, tourists should follow the Brazilian example and hit the beach rather than rush around. These months are also peak season - not only are international flights more expensive, but domestic travel and hotels are charged at a premium and get booked up quickly.

Henry Dixon is a financier, researching prices of property around the world, especially Brazil property (http://www.brazil-property.co.uk/).

Make FIFA 2010 finals a day to remember

For the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup want to block Spain and Netherlands their horns for the top spot. Entry of the Netherlands in the final ended their long wait of 32 years. Dutch fans all over the world go to pray and hope for a fantastic performance by the team on Sunday. 'Sneijder' may be even the highest scorer of the World Cup 2010. Join the victory in the final would certainly it immortal, but it will be easier? The talented Spanish team is not to facilitate. Both teams are in unbeatable spirit. The final of the 2010 World Cup is the biggest event of the year. So, how do we special? Not everyone can fly to Africa, but in any case we can create our own stadium-like experience.

Plan for a mini Stadium: Oral agreement for a place where 20-30 can sit friends together. Would a big screen HD TV give a near perfect picture so it rent or even a projector will get good result. Make sure that the room is large enough to accommodate all. Comfortable and relaxing seats should be provided.

Other basic regulations: Make you a list of friends are invited and in advance notice send to them. Organizers can they charge for all steps. Ample supply of snacks and drinks to be stored. To feel of the real Stadium, some team flags ready, decorate the room with the colours of the Club and also some 'Wuwuzela' keep close at hand.

Distribute or sell some team merchandise: Team merchandise is a great way to show your support. Those who can Spain Spanish team T-shirts wear during those the the Netherlands Dutch team t-Shirts sport can. The mixture of jacket, hats, headbands and other things can also be distributed.

Alternative arrangement get ready: Case, if the connection or power supply, replacement arrangement as does back it should be high. You can also choose the online feeds available. There are many websites offer live streams online.

It comes only once in four years. And all participating and non-participating nation is eagerly waiting to catch glimpses of that. 19. FIFA is 2010 World Cup almost at the end of his journey. Can an event, by another four years remember it, until it again comes back in Brazil in 2014.

Some great looking, you can football jerseys buy for your party from online stores. Football jerseys of different teams is also easily accessible.

A Biography of Ronaldinho

If you think of soccer tricks, Ronaldinho is one the first names that comes up in your mind. He is the typical Brazilian street soccer player, but better. Ronaldinho seems to have total control over the ball and he makes it look so easy. But how did he come so far? Well, here is his life story.

Ronaldinho's youth

Ronaldinho Gaúcho was born on 21st March 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He was born in a family of soccer addicts. Ronaldinho and his family lived in a wooden house in a favela. His father, João de Silva Moreira, played for Esporte Clube Cruzeiro, a local soccer club. To get by, he worked as a car park attendant at FC Gremio. João also worked in a local shipyard.

Ronaldinho's sister, Deisi, works as his press coordinator. His older brother, Roberto, now works as his manager.

Roberto showed a lot of soccer talent at a young age as well. When he signed a contract at FC Grêmio, he and his family moved into a villa in the more sophisticated and developed part of Porto Alegre, Guarujá. Life was good for Ronaldinho and his family. But when Ronaldinho was eight, his father suffered a fatal heart attack in the villa's swimming pool. To make things even worse, Roberto had to stop his soccer career after a bad knee injury.

Ronaldinho developed a special interest in futsal and beach soccer, this is probably where he developed his excelling technique. At this time, he got his nickname 'Ronaldinho', which means 'little Ronaldo'. The reason behind this name is the fact that he was almost always the youngest and smallest player on the field.

Ronaldinho's first breakthrough

Ronaldinho really started to make a name for himself at the age of 13 when he scored all 23 goals in a 23-0 victory against a local team.

Ronaldinho was signed by FC Grêmio to play in their youth squad. He was considered a wonder child from the age of 17. He played for the Brazilian U-17 squad at the U-17 WC in Egypt in 1997. He scored his first goal from a penalty in the 7-0 victory against Austria. He scored a total of 2 penalties at that tournament. Ronaldinho won the Bronze Ball at this tournament.

Ronaldinho's coach in the youth squad of FC Grêmio was Liam Higgins. He debuted in Grêmio's senior squad in 1998 in the Copa Libertadores.

From that point, Ronaldinho's career went fast. In 1999, he played a lot of international matches. He was part of the Brazilian Youth Squad in the FIFA World Youth Championship. There, he scored his first goal in the group stage. He then scored twice against Croatia in the 1/16 final. Brazil was eliminated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals.

On 26 June 1999, Ronaldinho earned his first cap for Brazil in a 3-0 win over Latvia. Three days later, he took part in Brazil's successful Copa América campaign. After the Copa América, Ronaldinho played in the Confederations Cup. He scored in every match but he missed the final against Mexico due to an injury. Brazil lost that match 4-3.

Moving to Europe

In 2001, Arsenal showed interest in Ronaldinho. They were close to signing him, but the transfer was cancelled when Ronaldinho wasn't able to obtain a work permit due to a lack of caps.

To gain some international experience, Ronaldinho wanted to play on loan at Scottish St. Mirren. This move was also cancelled because Ronaldinho was involved in a fake passport scandal in Brazil just recently. But in the end, he did get his transfer to Europe when he signed a 5-year deal at Paris Saint-Germain.

Ronaldinho participated in the World Cup in 2002. He formed a magnificent trio with Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Ronaldinho scored twice. Due to a suspension, he had to miss the semifinal. He did play in the final which Brazil won in a 2-0 victory over Germany.

Back in France, PSG's coach, Luis Fernández, claimed that Ronaldinho was more into the city's nightlife than into soccer. Nevertheless, Ronaldinho dreamt of playing in the Champions League or the UEFA Cup. When PSG failed to qualify for either tournament in 2003, Ronaldinho decided it was time to leave PSG.

Ronaldinho's move to Barcelona and his final breakthrough

In 2003, Ronaldinho moved to Barcelona. Barca was initially trying to sign David Beckham but when Beckham moved to Real Madrid, Barca's president, Joan Laporta, outbid Manchester United and brought Ronaldinho in.

Ronaldinho suffered from various injuries during his first half year at Barcelona. When Ronaldinho returned, he helped Barca to the second place in the Primera Division. Ronaldinho won his first league title at Barca during the season of 2004-2005. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in December 2004 and he was chosen for the UEFA Team of the Year.

Ronaldinho became a father on 25 February 2005. The mother of his son is the Brazilian dancer Janaína Mendes. Their son is named João after Ronaldinho father.

In 2005, Ronaldinho was chosen over Frank Lampard and Samuel Eto'o for another title of FIFA World Player of the Year. He also received a place in the UEFA Team of the Year for the second consecutive time. To honor Ronaldinho, he got a 23-foot tall statue in Chapecá, Brazil. Later that year, Barca was eliminated in the Champions League by Chelsea in the first knockout round after a 4-2 loss. Ronaldinho scored both goals for Barcelona.

Brazil won another Confederations Cup in which Ronaldinho played as Brazil's captain. Ronaldinho was named Man of the Match in a 4-1 victory over Argentina. Since that tournament, he shares the title of all-time scorer in the Confederations Cup with Cuauht'moc Blanco of Mexico. Both scored 9 goals.

Barca offered to extend Ronaldinho's contract until 2014. This deal would earn him EUR85 million in 9 years but Ronaldinho turned this deal down. In September 2005, he agreed on a 2-year extension with a minimum-fee release clause of EUR85 million.

After scoring two of the three goals in El Clásico in 2005 against Real Madrid, Ronaldinho received a standing ovation from both Barca's and Real's fans.

In 2006, Ronaldinho was chosen for the UEFA Team of the Year for the third consecutive time. In the same season, he contributed to defeating Benfica and AC Milan in the Champions League Quarter Final and Semi Final. On 17 May 2006, Barcelona defeated Arsenal with a 2-1 win in the Champions League Final. Barca also won their second consecutive title. Ronaldinho scored 26 goals in all competitions during the season of 2005-2006. He was also named Champions League Player of the Year.

Ronaldinho, Kaká, Ronaldo and Adriano formed the most feared attack at the 2006 World Cup. In the end, they were very disappointing. They only scored 5 goals, Ronaldinho only gave 1 assist. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinal against France after a 1-0 loss.

Injuries, critics and Ronaldinho's breakdown

After their elimination, Ronaldinho and the rest of the Brazilian squad were heavily criticized by the media and the fans. Ronaldinho's statue in Chapecá was destroyed by unsatisfied fans. Later that day, Ronaldinho and Adriano returned to Ronaldinho's house in Barcelona to have a party. They were spotted in a nightclub that same night, which caused the fans to accuse Ronaldinho of a lack of effort.

In the season of 2006-2007, Ronaldinho scored the 50th goal in his career. Barca finished second in the World Cup for Clubs after losing 1-0 to Internacional. Ronaldinho did score a goal and gave two assists in the 4-0 win over Club América. Ronaldinho also won the Bronze Ball Award.

Ronaldinho has only capped 3 times in 6 months under head coach Dunga. In 2007, he scored twice in the 4-0 victory over Chile. These were his first goals for Brazil since the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Brazil won the 2007 Copa América but Ronaldinho wasn't called up to participate. Later that year, Ronaldinho returned too late in Barcelona after a friendly match between Brazil and Ecuador. Ronaldinho and several other Brazilian internationals celebrated their win in Rio de Janeiro. To punish him, Barcelona put him on the bench for the next match.

Ronaldinho also finished 3rd in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year, behind Fabio Cannavaro and Zinédine Zidane. Ronaldinho also won a place in the UEFA Team of the Year for the 3rd consecutive time in 2007. In March, Ronaldinho suffered from an injury in the 3-3 draw against Real Madrid.

Ronaldinho played his 200th match for Barcelona against Osasuna in 2008. Another injury ended what would be his last season at Barca.

In 2008, Ronaldinho was called up for Brazil's squad at the Summer Olympics 2008. Barcelona blocked this move because they were still competing in the Champions League. When Ronaldinho moved to AC Milan, he still got to play in Beijing as his new employer did accept the move. Ronaldinho scored 2 goals in a 5-0 win over New Zealand. Brazil finished 3rd and won a bronze medal.

Ronaldinho played a very disappointing season after his excellent seasons at Barcelona. Critics and tabloids were after him. The fans expected him to play like he did during the last two seasons but Ronaldinho just couldn't reach that level anymore.

Ronaldinho's move to AC Milan

During the transfer period, Manchester City showed concrete interest in Ronaldinho. The deal was of after Ronaldinho rejected a EUR25.5 million deal. Ronaldinho eventually moved to AC Milan for EUR21 million. He scored his first goal for Milan against rivals Internazionale in a 1-0 victory on 28 September 2008. He also scored the winning goal against Braga in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Ronaldinho still hasn't found the form he had during the period between 2004 and 2006. Many people argue on why this is. Some say it's because of his injuries, others say he isn't focused on his career and loves partying more than playing top soccer.

But no matter what the reason is, Ronaldinho has proven himself. People from all over the world would come to Barcelona just to see him play. Kids scraped together their allowance to buy a Ronaldinho-shirt. Despite what all the critics say, the chances are small we will see another player like Ronaldinho in the next 10 years.

Ronaldinho's Gallery


FIFA U-17 World Cup (1997)
Confederations Cup Golden Ball (1999)
Confederations Cup Top Scorer (1999)
Copa América (1999)
State Champion Top Scorer (1999)
World Cup (2002)
World Cup All-Star Team (2002)
EFE Trophy / Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga (2004)
UEFA Team of the Year (2004)
World Player of the Year (2004)
Confederations Cup (2005)
European Footballer of the Year (2005)
FIFA World Player of the Year (2005)
FIFPro World Player of the Year (2005)
FIFPro World XI (2005)
La Liga (2005)
UEFA Best Club Forward (2005)
UEFA Club Football of the Year (2005)
UEFA Team of the Year (2005)
Supercopa de España (2005)
Champions League (2006)
FIFPro World Player of the Year (2006)
FIFPro World XI (2006)
La Liga (2006)
Supercopa de España (2006)
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (2006)
UEFA Team of the Year (2006)
FIFPro World XI (2007)
Bronze medal at the Summer Olympics (2008)

My name is Tim and I'm a Dutch student. I wrote this biography for my website http://www.soccer-tricks-exclusive.com

Minha Casa Minha Vida - Investing in Brazil

Brazil is regarded as the 7th biggest economy in the world and has been selected to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It is an excepted fact though often ignored that when countries are awarded the hosting of major sporting events like the World Cup or the Olympics that it is a clear sign of an economy that is booming.

Brazil is currently experiencing a tremendous growth phenomenon. Principle factors including a relatively strong economy and politically stable environment have indeed attracted many investors from all over the world.

Holiday homes and tourist accommodation are usually popular among investors, though now may not be the best time to invest in these following the direct impact of a global economic downturn. Perhaps the best approach would be to look at developing valuable holiday spots in prime locations with a view to reaping the benefits long-term as the demand grows with improved economic stability.

Having that said - Brazil does have another trick up its sleeve when it comes to property investing. Minha Casa Minha Vida is the name of a huge project which aims to meet the increasing demands of affordable housing in Brazil. The idea is to make housing as accessible as possible to lower-income groups within the population. This makes investing in local residential real estate in Brazil an attractive and safe opportunity that will continue to grow and promises high returns further ensured by the high demand in this case.

Year to year prices of the local housing in Brazil suggest a consistent increase up to 20%. Investors who strategically position themselves within the circle of this development will certainly be able to reap extensive rewards and also sell their properties for higher expected returns.

The government of Brazil needs to exercise special consideration over a growing shortfall of affordable housing for its citizens and is therefore welcoming foreign investors. The target is to be able to provide an estimated 37 million houses and this they hope to achieve by 2030.

The Minha Casa Minha Vida programme is expected to look into all areas of the country where the population is concentrated in large numbers. They are experiencing a huge deficit of housing. This in turn has even greater implications for the kind of development that needs to take place there. Investors will no doubt continue to benefit as the programme extends into the future.

To get started into the Minha Casa Minha Vida programme investors need to fork out a minimum of $74,000. This initial investment will see a 50% profit in just two years and is tax exempt in Brazil.

If you are looking for best alternative investments in Brazil such as Minha Casa Minha Vida, experts at Compare the Financial Markets will help provide valuable assistance.