It's not their real names. If you want to be taken seriously as a Brazilian footballer, then you have to have a nickname.
The guy we know as Ronaldo used to be known in Brazil as Ronaldinho (when he was younger) - Ronaldinho means "little Ronaldo". Ronaldo's real name is Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.
Ronaldinho was actually known as Ronaldinho Gaucho when he first emerged in Brazil (because he is left footed). His real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. These two players actually have nicknames that incorporate their real name "Ronald". But they are in the minority.
Kaka's real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite because when he was little, he couldn't pronounce his own name, Ricardo, so he shortened it to Caca, which later changed to Kaka.
Garrincha, one of the most famous Brazilians of all time was actually called Manuel Francisco dos Santos, but used the nickname of 'Little Bird' because he used to fly past defender (not literally).
And so it goes on. The reason for this is that the diminutive forms of names are the traditional Portugese way of showing that you care about someone... rather than using someone's formal full name, a nickname for someone you love is commonplace in Brazil. I expect that when Kaka was a kid, his mother probably called him Ricardo when she was angry with him.
Cristiano Ronaldo's real name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. I cannot explain this, apart from saying that he was also called Ronald, but his parents were more relgious than Ronaldo's or Ronaldinho's!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 09:34 am (UTC)It's not their real names. If you want to be taken seriously as a Brazilian footballer, then you have to have a nickname.
The guy we know as Ronaldo used to be known in Brazil as Ronaldinho (when he was younger) - Ronaldinho means "little Ronaldo". Ronaldo's real name is Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.
Ronaldinho was actually known as Ronaldinho Gaucho when he first emerged in Brazil (because he is left footed). His real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. These two players actually have nicknames that incorporate their real name "Ronald". But they are in the minority.
Kaka's real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite because when he was little, he couldn't pronounce his own name, Ricardo, so he shortened it to Caca, which later changed to Kaka.
Garrincha, one of the most famous Brazilians of all time was actually called Manuel Francisco dos Santos, but used the nickname of 'Little Bird' because he used to fly past defender (not literally).
And so it goes on. The reason for this is that the diminutive forms of names are the traditional Portugese way of showing that you care about someone... rather than using someone's formal full name, a nickname for someone you love is commonplace in Brazil. I expect that when Kaka was a kid, his mother probably called him Ricardo when she was angry with him.
Cristiano Ronaldo's real name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. I cannot explain this, apart from saying that he was also called Ronald, but his parents were more relgious than Ronaldo's or Ronaldinho's!