Ronaldinho and Dota 2: The Legend of Football Enters the Esports Arena!

Football and eSports are two completely different worlds that seem to have no points of intersection. However, in recent years, the line between traditional sports and virtual battles has been erased. World-famous athletes are increasingly showing interest in video games, and companies are happy to invite them as ambassadors or even participants in competitions. The latest big news was the news that Brazilian football star Ronaldinho was involved in Dota 2, one of the most popular eSports disciplines.

How Ronaldinho ended up in Dota 2

Ronaldinho, who many call the wizard of the football, became famous for his unique style of play, which combined technique, artistry and inimitable charisma. However, few people knew that off the football field, the legendary Brazilian has another passion - video games. In an interview in 2023, he admitted that games were a way for him to relax after intense matches. "In football, as in games, it is important to stay focused and think a few steps ahead. This has always attracted me," Ronaldinho said. Now it has become known that he not only plays FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer, but is also interested in eSports disciplines, including Dota 2. The news that Ronaldinho is actively interested in Dota 2 surfaced unexpectedly. In December 2024, he attended one of the largest tournaments - The International (TI), which annually brings together the best players from all over the world. His presence at the event caused a stir among both spectators and professional players. But the story didn't end there. A few weeks later, a video appeared on social media where Ronaldinho, dressed in a signature Dota 2 T-shirt, was playing a public match (a regular match) with popular streamers. The comments on the video were full of admiration and jokes. Some users even noted that his style of play resembled his football style: creativity, unexpected moves and the ability to find unconventional solutions.

After the video went viral, Dota 2 developer Valve announced a partnership with Ronaldinho. The Brazilian star became the official ambassador of the game, as well as the face of the campaign to promote Dota 2 in South America. This is no coincidence: the region has been showing growth in the popularity of eSports for several years in a row, and Brazilian teams are achieving success on the international stage. As part of the partnership, Valve released a special cosmetic set (the so-called "set") for the hero Earth Spirit. The design of the set is inspired by Ronaldinho: the character is dressed in a football uniform, and instead of the standard animation of kicks, movements reminiscent of football feints are used. Ronaldinho himself was also invited to voice the character, who added several signature phrases, such as "Ginga!" and "Vamos jogar!". The Dota 2 community can be extremely critical. However, this time, the overwhelming majority of players enthusiastically received the news. Many noted that cooperation with the legendary footballer will help attract new players, especially from among football fans. In addition, the very fact that a person of Ronaldinho's level is interested in the game raises its prestige in the eyes of a wider audience. E-sportsmen also did not remain on the sidelines. One of the most famous players, Sebastian "Ceb" Debs, shared on Twitter: "I can't believe that Ronaldinho himself plays Dota 2. Now I'm waiting for him at training with OG!"

Ronaldinho’s story is just one example of athletes from traditional sports getting involved in esports projects. Even earlier, footballers like Sergio Aguero and Antoine Griezmann created their own esports organizations and even streamed on Twitch. However, Ronaldinho’s inclusion in the world of Dota 2 stands out from the rest due to the scale of his personality and the popularity of the game.

There are several reasons for this trend.

• the popularity of esports continues to grow, with millions of people around the world.
• esports provides athletes with a new platform to interact with fans and promote their brands.
• for many professional athletes, gaming is a way to maintain the spirit of competition and teamwork after their careers.

The collaboration with Ronaldinho could be an important milestone for the development of Dota 2. Valve is looking to not only strengthen its position in existing markets, but also expand its influence in new regions. South America, with its passion for football and growing interest in eSports, is becoming the perfect platform for this. As for Ronaldinho himself, his involvement in eSports may inspire other sports legends to take similar steps. His charisma and unique style of play have already made him an icon of football, and now he can become a symbol of the unification of traditional sports and virtual battles.