Brazil and Barcelona football genius Ronaldinho has been practicing late at night and early in the morning on a beach near Barcelona in order to get privacy, so he can get to full fitness ahead of the World Cup Finals, his personal trainer has revealed.

Ronaldinho’s trainer, Joaquim Valdimar Goncalves Garcia, said in an interview with the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that Ronaldinho spends hours jogging and playing foot-volley, (keepy-uppy), in the sand in order to help him get in shape for the World Cup Finals in Germany.

In order to get privacy, Ronaldinho has taken to training at these times. “It's hard for Ronaldinho to leave home without being recognized,'' said Garcia, "So we have to opt for hours in which the beach is empty.”

He said Ronaldinho's secret training sessions take place at the Castelldefels beach, some 15 miles (25 km) from Barcelona.

Ronaldinho's secret workout routine is even a surprise to the Brazil national team’s physical trainer, Moracy Santana.

“We don't know about things like this unless the player tells us,” Santana told the Folha de S. Paulo. “And he has never said anything.”

The 25-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder was crowned the FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time in a row last December. He also helped Barcelona win the Spanish league title in 2005 for the first time in six years.

Ronaldinho is just one of the stars in the Brazil team, but with 70 caps, and sixteen goals for his country, he will undoubtedly be one of the stars in this summers World Cup Finals.

Brazil currently lead FIFA's world rankings, and are the huge favourites to retain the trophy, and to win a record sixth World Cup title.

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