Being an Atlético Mineiro fan is not for everyone. It’s about living through emotion, resilience, and believing until the very last minute. It’s not about collecting trophies — it’s about never giving up.
That’s why asking who the club’s greatest idol is almost impossible to answer.
Reinaldo, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and Hulk are more than just football legends. They are voices of a fan base that has always shouted loudly, even in the face of adversity. Each of them, in their own way, embodies what it means to be an Atlético supporter.
We’re not here to talk numbers. Talking about Atlético is talking about feelings. But by the end of this text, you’ll have your own opinion on who is the club’s biggest idol.
Reinaldo, the King of Mineirão
Reinaldo didn’t just play football — he created art. Every time he had the ball at his feet, the Mineirão Stadium held its breath, waiting for the impossible to become reality. But his legacy goes far beyond goals.
He wore the black and white jersey as if it were his own skin. In times when titles were scarce, he was the one who made Atlético fans believe. Every dribble, every goal, every clenched fist was an answer to those who doubted the club. He lived through that struggle firsthand, like in the 1977 Brazilian Championship final, when he was unfairly prevented from playing.
His story mirrors the very essence of an Atlético supporter: resistance, passion, and battle. No matter how many decades pass, his name will continue to echo in Mineirão, in the chants of the fans, and in every beat of a black-and-white heart.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho, the Magician
Ronaldinho’s time at Atlético Mineiro was a magical, almost spiritual connection.
One of the most emblematic moments of this relationship happened against Figueirense in 2012. After scoring a goal, Ronaldinho, visibly emotional, broke into tears, remembering his stepfather’s passing and his mother’s illness. Embraced by his teammates and the fans, that day Ronaldinho became an Atlético supporter himself, scoring three goals and delivering two assists.
Another unforgettable moment came during the 2013 Copa Libertadores. Atlético and São Paulo met again in the Round of 16 after the Tricolor had secured qualification by beating Atlético in the last group stage match. At Morumbi, São Paulo started strong, dominating the game. Atlético fans, scarred by years of frustrations, felt that familiar fear. Would this be another year of coming close but falling short?
Then, everything changed. Ronaldinho equalized and ran to celebrate, shouting: “Aqui é Galo, porra!” (“This is Galo, damn it!”). In one sentence, the Magician summed up the feeling of an entire fanbase, of an entire history. A cry from those who had suffered too much but never gave up. From that moment on, no one could stop Ronaldinho’s Atlético, the continental champions that season.
Atlético fans’ fears disappeared, confidence returned, and history was rewritten. The club was no longer the team that almost made it. Atlético was now the champion of South America. And Ronaldinho was the face of that transformation.
Hulk, the Modern-Day Hero
When Hulk arrived at Atlético in 2021, there was skepticism. His reputation was stained by Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup loss. He had been a star in Portugal, Russia, and China, but could he truly understand what it meant to be an Atlético player?
The answer came quickly. Hulk didn’t just play for Atlético — he became Atlético. In 2021, he was the driving force behind a team that didn’t just win but dominated and made history. With him, Atlético won the tríplice coroa (triple crown), ending a 50-year wait to lift the Brazilian Championship trophy again.
But that title wasn’t just about a trophy. It was about reconnecting with the club’s very identity. It was Belo Horizonte coming to a standstill. It was grandparents and grandchildren crying together at Mineirão. It was fans holding up photos of loved ones who had spent their lives waiting for that moment but were no longer here to see it.
At the center of it all was Hulk — a man who came from afar, with no Brazilian club to call home, and found one at Atlético. He understood what it meant to be an Atlético supporter. He felt it deep in his soul. He wore the jersey as if he was wearing his own essence.
Hulk isn’t just a goal-scorer. Since 2021, he has been the very embodiment of an Atlético fan’s pride.
Being an Atlético Supporter is a Privilege
Reinaldo was the voice of resistance. Ronaldinho, the scream of rebirth. Hulk, the certainty of victory.
Each of them left their mark. Each of them wrote an unforgettable chapter. And all of them carried something in their hearts that cannot be measured in goals or trophies: they understood what it means to be Atlético.
Being an Atlético fan isn’t about winning. It’s about believing. Each of them wore the black and white jersey with that spirit.
And that’s why Atlético Mineiro doesn’t have just one greatest idol. It has three.