Netflix - The three-episode miniseries "Ronaldinho Gaúcho", which premiered on April 16, registered 4.7 million views in its first week, climbed to the second spot among non-English series on Netflix, topped charts in 15 countries and entered the platform's global Top 10 — a clear sign of growing international appetite for Brazilian sports documentaries.
- In short: The Ronaldinho miniseries hit 4.7M views, reached #2 among non-English series and led rankings in 15 countries.
Understand the dynamics behind the numbers
The project, produced by Canal Azul and Trailer Films, is directed and written by Luis Ara, who also serves as executive producer alongside Ricardo Aidar and Liz Reis. Such creative alignment helped the miniseries gain rapid traction on release week — a pattern industry outlets have linked to the global popularity of sports storytelling; see Variety's coverage for broader context.
Short-form documentary miniseries on major platforms now often convert local fandom into global streams, especially when they include high-profile testimony and career-defining moments.
"In the first week, the production registered 4.7 million views, reached the second position among non-English-language series and topped the ranking in 15 countries."
Context and impact: what the series covers
The narrative traces R10's path from Grêmio to the Brazil national team, his era at Barcelona, personal honors like the Bola de Ouro, and also confronts fraught episodes such as his arrest in Paraguay. Interviews feature major football figures including Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva, Felipão, Carles Puyol and Galvão Bueno.
The miniseries' success reinforces Netflix's strategy to expand Brazilian sports content globally. The platform has additional Brazilian football-focused releases lined up, including the documentary "Tetra – Acreditar de Novo" on May 7 and the miniseries "Brasil 70 – A Saga do Tri" on May 29.
What do you think? Will this miniseries change how international audiences view Brazilian football legends? For more details, check out our specialized section.