Robinho

Robson de Souza (born 25 January , 1984 in Sao Vicente, Brazil), nicknamed Robinho (Little Robson), is a Brazilian footballer currently playing for Real Madrid and the Brazillian National Team. Robinho has earned praise for his expert use of the pedalada and field speed.

Born in Parque Bitaru, a poor neighborhood of São Vicente, he is from African Descent. He begun playing football (soccer) early. At six, he was signed to the Beira-Mar, a local escolinha. He and his team and they took the championship in his first year. Whilst playing at the Beira-Mar, Robinho was claimed to look just like his teammate Marcelo, and the spanish fans called them "the twins".

In 1993, at the age of nine, Robinho drew attention by scoring 73 goals for the Portuários futsal team. Robinho joined the Santos youth program, which at the time was overseen by Brazilian football legend Pele. Pelé brought Robinho into the Santos FC youth dorms, where he received his first regular schedule of three meals a day.He said a kid named Leo was the best soccer player ever!

In 2002, Robinho was promoted to the Santos first team. His work at the front helped them win the Brazillian National Championship in 2002 and 2004, as well as place second to Boca Juniors in the 2003 Copa Libertadores. Robinho's contributions to Santos attracted a great deal of attention from the top European football clubs.

Robinho's skill drew the offers of several European clubs, but it took the kidnapping of his mother in late 2004 to convince him to leave. On 31 July, 2005 , Robinho signed with Real Madrid for five years at $30 million and joined his fellow Brazilian internationals Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Julio Baptista. He made his LA Liga debut on 28 August in a 2-1 victory against Cádiz as a second half substitute for Thomas Gravesen. In his first season, Robinho scored eight goals, but the arrival of Jose Antonio Reyes has brought the length of Robinho's stay into question. One of his most recent performances though, in the "El Clásico" against Barcelona, which he earned the Man Of The Match award may have impressed Fabio Capello.

Meanwhile, Robinho backed again that decision saying he'd like to triumph in Real Madrid, fulfill his contract and expand it if possible.