FIFA+’s ‘Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man In The World’ Is The “Perfect Launch Vehicle” For Streamer’s Originals Strand

deadline.com:

FIFA+’s debut feature doc Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man In The World sets the gold standard for quality, scale and ambition for original content on the new soccer streamer, says its head of content.FIFA+ launched this week with a suite of FIFA+ Original-branded shows, live matches, news and data and plans to offer 40,000 soccer games.Headlining the debut was the 90-minute Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man In The World, a buzzy title from British directors Andrew and Stuart Douglas, Bernie Goldmann and the Los Angeles Media Fund (LAMF) looking into the life of the iconic Brazilian soccer star, focusing on his time at Barcelona FC.FIFA+ acquired the doc in a competitive situation ahead of the free streaming service’s debut and Marley told Deadline it acts as “an incredible launch vehicle for this platform.”The film follows the colorful attacker’s ascent to the top of game in the mid-2000s, before looking at why he only remained there for a short time by speaking to those close to him and his mystique.After winning two FIFA World Player of the Year awards through his effortlessly skilful and joyful approach to the game, Ronaldinho’s career took a turn for the worst, culminating a series of damaging personal life episodes, including a spell in a Paraguayan prison for entering the country using a false passport.“A lot of narrative is filled in the negative space around him,” said Stuart Douglas. “Key access is the most important factor in a doc like this and through his brother Roberto, who manages the whole story, we got that for Ronnie.

We were able to fill in the blanks.”The doc hears from the likes of Lionel Messi, seen by some as Ronaldinho’s protege at Barcelona and now widely recognized as the greatest soccer player of all