Ronaldinho Gaúcho and the boy Juarez
It was on that day, April 27, 2024, when the sky became completely cloudy, with the arrival of strong winds, invading the state of Rio Grande do Sul. A violent storm of rain and winds with heavy cloud cover in Santa Cruz do Sul, in the greater Vales Region, began to rain and did not stop, filling the basins of the Pardo, Jacuí, Taquari, Caí, Sinos and Gravataí rivers to overflowing, invading several municipalities and destroying lives and their properties. The rain throughout the state did not let up for several days, sliding barriers between the hills, invading houses, streets, squares and avenues.
Several interconnected cities, where the rainwater broke through, reached the Guaíba River in Porto Alegre, invading churches, streets, avenues, parks, and hundreds of residents fled without knowing where to go. There were rivers on the avenues and streets at high speed within the city. The army, navy, air force, municipal guard, fire department and other auxiliary forces were unable to help people who were drowning and others being swept away by the currents. Several merchants were swimming, others were trying to save their goods in stores with floodwaters on the walls, others were mourning the great loss.
On May 1st, the city's mayor declared a state of emergency while a colossal tree fell on Edgar Pires de Castro Avenue, causing several disruptions.
Heading towards the Humaitá neighborhood, where the seventh largest stadium in Brazil is located, there was the Arena do Grêmio full of water. A little further away behind some poor houses at the top, there was Juarez's residence completely flooded and with possible landslides. On top of the house, there was a Grêmio flag and another flag with the words “Ronaldinho come save me”.
Juarez was the only child of Dona Maristela, who was only 10 years old and a fan of Grêmio and its former player, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, known as the Wizard, R10, the King of Random Plays, Ronaldinho Gaúcho. It is worth noting that his father, João Moreira, worked at the Grêmio stadium on weekends. As if Ronaldinho Gaúcho's great insistence were not enough, he would always go with his father, taking advantage of his young age of six, to play soccer alone or with friends, with his father as an admirer, who would say the following:
- Very good Dinho, play to the left and then to the right, make the ball your eternal friend and freedom. You play very well. The ball is your greatest star, and your feet will make it the most elegant laugh in the matches. Play beautifully with love and receive the shine of the ball flying. Soon, you will play at the Grêmio Foot-ball Porto Alegrense school. I promise you that.
- Yes, dad. I'm going to do all of this.
At the age of eight, his brother told Ronaldinho Gaúcho about the accident in the pool. With his dreams shattered, he cried a lot without understanding the pain that the family felt in their hearts. Very sad, his brother and sister started to help at home, with his paternal father being his brother Roberto.
At the age of seventeen, Ronaldinho Gaúcho assumed his identity and soon became the greatest player in Rio Grande do Sul, playing for Grêmio, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Milan, Flamengo, Atlético Mineiro, Querétaro, Fluminense, and the Brazilian National Team.
In several matches for Barcelona, the young player and revelation of Grêmio made the fans on both sides go crazy with his dribbles, fantastic plays, and goals. The set pieces were enchanting as they crossed the time, crossing the grass of the goal.
At that moment, the rain and large gusts of rain and wind invaded the only access where the young Juarez lived. On the fire department boat, the sergeant said to the brigadier soldier:
- A lady called the Civil Defense this morning, claiming that her son had been hungry since yesterday and that she could not enter the property because it was full of water and asked for help. She asked to save her 10-year-old son. The lady was crying a lot.
- Yes, sergeant. But it is becoming impossible to get through there. Everything is under water, and it is getting bigger every second. There are a lot of buildings collapsing. We have to ask for help from the guard helicopter, that is the only way we can get there.
- Soldier Moacir, go ahead, look: A flooded house with two flags on its roof. Give me the binoculars so I can see better. A Grêmio flag and another cardboard one, with the following words: “Ronaldinho come save me”. I see an arm outside as if the person were dead. It is the arm of a boy dressed in Grêmio uniform. Call the aircraft urgently to reconnoiter the area. And we're going after Ronaldinho Gaúcho. That's him, the ambassador of the city of Miami for the 2026 World Cup.
After an hour, the boat arrives with former soccer player Ronaldinho Gaúcho and the police transfer him to the helicopter. After boarding the aircraft, Ronaldinho Gaúcho feels a sense of sadness when he sees his city underwater in strong currents.
-My God! Everything is lost and full of water. I played soccer right there at Grêmio. Come up a little higher, sergeant. It's the flag of my team Grêmio, and the second flag asks for my help. Oh my God, how can I help!
-Do you want to get down, Ronaldinho?
-Yes, I want.
The helicopter pilot maneuvered the aircraft to the boy's side. Surprised, Ronaldinho Gaúcho said.
-My God! It's a boy wearing the Grêmio uniform. His heart is still beating. Please apply an urgent serum. I need to save this child's life. There are many photos on the wall with my image. Poor child! Come, sergeant, with the rescuers. Heading to the HCAA hospital, urgently.
After the boy was discharged from HCAA, Ronaldinho Gaúcho met with Dona Maristela, who informed the former soccer player of everything. Without sparing any effort, Ronaldinho Gaúcho said:
-Today, you will sleep in a new place, an apartment. I hope you have no more worries. It is a gift for the boy Juarez and may God bless us all. Amen.
The boy Juarez said:
-Thank you, my ambassador for the 2026 World Cup. I did nothing to receive this great gift.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho said:
-The apartment with 3 bedrooms, living room, bathroom and service area is yours. Rest assured that I enrolled you in the Grêmio school as a midfielder. And may God always bless us.