Ronaldinho prepares for World Cup

Ronaldinho practices at night and early in the morning on a beach near Barcelona to improve his physical condition ahead of the World Cup, his personal trainer told local media.

Joaquim Valdimar Goncalves Garcia told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper that Ronaldinho spends hours jogging and playing footvolley in order to get in shape.

"It's hard for Ronaldinho to leave home without being recognised," Garcia said. "So we have to opt for hours in which the beach is empty."

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

Ronaldinho's secret workout routine surprised even Brazil'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 never said anything."

The 25-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder won his second straight FIFA World Player of the Year award in December. He helped Barcelona win the Spanish league title in 2005 for the first time in six years.

Brazil leads FIFA's world rankings and is favoured to win its record sixth World Cup title. (AP)