Roberto de Assis Moreira

Roberto de Assis Moreira is the brother, manager, agent and adviser of Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho. Although Assis is known predominantly for his intelligent managing of better known and more illustrious younger brother Ronaldinho's career, he himself was a budding football talent in his youth. In fact, Brazilian giants Grêmio offered Assis' family a villa in order to keep the promising youngster with the club.

Previously, the family had lived in a wooden house in the middle of a "favela" or slum in Porto Alegre, in the south of Brazil. At this time, João, a solderer by trade, often worked as a car park security guard at Grêmio's stadium in order to supplement his meager income.

Roberto's success as a footballer helped his family leave the slots behind for a more comfortable home, but his hopes of playing top-level football with Grêmio were all but destroyed when he suffered a serious knee injury, which led him to play second-tier football in Switzerland before stints in Japan and Mexico.

Years later, Roberto's younger brother Ronaldo (now known only as Ronaldinho), would emerge as an even hotter talent at Grêmio's youth set-up before departing his home country for French side PSG and eventually Spanish giants FC Barcelona, with whom he was with for four years, before departing for AC. Milan in 2008.

Today, Roberto Assis acts as his brother's agent and adviser, and is credited by many, including Ronaldinho himself, as a major influence and guiding force of the player.

During his acceptance speech after receiving the FIFA World Player of the Year award for a second consecutive year in December 2005, Ronaldinho paid tribute to his brother: "He's my idol. He's been through a lot and has helped me every step of the way. He has encouraged me never to stop trying."

Roberto Assis also owns Brazilian club Porto Alegre, which currently plays in the second division.