João Mendes was born on 22 February 2005 in Brazil 🇧🇷
Ronaldinho was not there. He was living in Spain, was Barcelona’s biggest star, and was preparing for a Champions League round-of-16 match. Football had him trapped just as his son was coming into the world.
Years later, in a documentary about his life, the Brazilian said it plainly: he regrets it. Today, a world champion with a career full of trophies, he says he would not miss that moment for any match. João grew up with his mother, Janaína Mendes, away from the limelight, and today he still follows in his father’s footballing footsteps. Ronaldinho watches him play and feels proud — but that absence at the hospital still weighs on him ⚽💛
