Ronaldinho

What I am saying is put Ronaldinho in place of Messi in the Guardiola era and they would have still been brilliant. The Barca team of old being more beatable had nothing to do with Ronaldinho's ability and more to do with the gap in class between the Bara midfield of then and now.


I didn't say they wouldn't, I said they would have MORE success with Messi.
 
Ronaldinho did things with a football that nearly defied physics. He could trademark some of the tricks he's done except he doesn't need to because nobody else can do them. When I watch all the other brilliant players I think to myself 'yeah I could probably manage to do that once when I am at the very top of my game against a really bad team in a kick around in the park' but when I watch Ronadinho I know there is no way I could even begin to do some of the things he's done.

I seen this goal live. He spins, jumps and bicycle kicks all using the one leg
 
I respect and fear Messi as a player but I loved Ronaldinho. Even as a rival. Some things about football just speak to your soul, like the things Ronaldinho could do with a ball. It's the smile it puts on your face when you see something that no one else would've even thought of attempting at that moment. For me, what Messi does is exactly what he should do in any given moment, and he executes it perfectly, again and again. It's a sensational application of technique and focus but I would argue that it lacks the artistry of a flawed genius like Ronaldinho. And that's a salient point, because Ronaldinho was very much a flawed genius. He could be frustrating at times and as his career wound on he clearly lacked application. He was known for enjoying life outside of football and I think that is something we can all relate to. He went to the field, did some outrageous tricks and then went out clubbing with his friends afterwards. Not the model professional, but yet he seemed to bring a joie de vivre to the pitch that has rarely been matched; and without the self importance and ostentatious attitude of many modern footballers. I can't find the particular quote but I remember reading a comment he made once about how he was so ugly, that if he hadn't been a famous footballer, he'd never have gotten laid.

We love our flawed geniuses, it's what we see in ourselves. The ability to live a normal lifestyle, whatever that may be, or to behave in a politically incorrect way; but with the addition of an outrageous talent. Cristiano Ronaldo will probably go down as the player who produced the best form ever in a United shirt (to date) but he'll never be able to match the charisma of an Eric Cantona or George Best. Many of the claims above could also be applied to Messi. He's not obviously arrogant or ostentatious and he too seems to play football almost like he is a kid; but his game and his personality on the pitch lacks that little extra something, that charisma that we speak of when we discuss the Ronaldinho's and Cantona's of this world. Perhaps he is judged unfairly because of it, but nonetheless it's why I can say Messi is (for me) the best player of all time but not the greatest. Ronaldinho and Maradona can fight that out as far as I am concerned.

Like all of you, I fell in love with football as a kid. When football was still about football. When transfer gossip was page 302 on teletext and not endless streams of unsubstantiated bollocks on twitter. There was sense of enigma about foreign teams and you would dream of the day when you could watch players like Roberto Baggio live. But as we grew up football became about money, it became about agents, it became about showmanship, excess and detachment from society. It's just another reason why players like Ronaldinho, who seemed to truly play for his love of the game, and Paul Scholes (at the other end of the spectrum, the anti-thesis of the modern footballer....Mr. Normal, no agent) have that extra special place in our hearts.
 
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What a very nice post simon. His style of play was a fantasy of mine, the ability to humiliate the opponents with such class. Look at all the nutmegs he's done, it's not just " I have the ball through the guy's legs" with him, it was art.
 
Ronaldinho did things with a football that nearly defied physics. He could trademark some of the tricks he's done except he doesn't need to because nobody else can do them. When I watch all the other brilliant players I think to myself 'yeah I could probably manage to do that once when I am at the very top of my game against a really bad team in a kick around in the park' but when I watch Ronadinho I know there is no way I could even begin to do some of the things he's done.

I seen this goal live. He spins, jumps and bicycle kicks all using the one leg



I'm sorry, but anybody who says Messi has scored a better goal than this in his career really does need to get their eyes tested. I couldn't name you one player who could do that, he is just simply a God among men in terms of technical ability.
 
This was always my favourite 'dinho goal. This against arguably the best defence and goalkeeper in the world at the time.

Mine too.

It came out of nowhere and it was just one of those special moments in European football when every spectator just had to applaud the genius of the player. Zidane's goal in '02 is another of those moments that springs to mind.
 
Seriously, with all the things you're club has won in the last few years :p ..

Not about wins or trophies in this case, just about the footy. The world was denied a magical opportunity to see two generational talents entertain, together. Even recently, Ronaldinho was quoted as saying his biggest regret is not being able to play more with Leo.

I still recall the end of the Olympics semifinal between Brasil & Argentina in '08 (Just shortly after Ronaldinho's transfer to Milan), the lingering farewell & palpable emotions at the end between Leo & Ronnie kinda summed it up for me

dinhomessi.jpg
 
I'm sorry, but anybody who says Messi has scored a better goal than this in his career really does need to get their eyes tested. I couldn't name you one player who could do that, he is just simply a God among men in terms of technical ability.


Ronaldinho has scored far better goals than that.

 


I always remember this goal when AC and Barca were two of the best teams around. The way he turned Nesta....

Amazing player.
 
Ronaldinho has scored far better goals than that.




See again, saying that is far better is of your own opinion, because this goal shows such beautiful dribbling skills to feint two players then finish with a glorious weak footed long shot. As much as I agree in this being a brilliant goal, I don't think it's better.

That goal I selected is better in my opinion because he chested it to be in place behind him, swivel and then hit it with his weak foot all in one motion, and managing to score. It's a matter of what people think is a better goal.

But for you to just go and say it's far better is, well, yeah...
 
See again, saying that is far better is of your own opinion
In the same way this was your opinion...
I'm sorry, but anybody who says Messi has scored a better goal than this in his career really does need to get their eyes tested.

You really think he deliberately chested it in such a way to set it up for the overhead?! Wow. He hit it with his right foot by the way. Not that either of those facts matter. Ronaldinho has scored so many better goals than that. Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Baggio and all the rest have scored countless better goals than that.
 
This was always my favourite 'dinho goal. This against arguably the best defence and goalkeeper in the world at the time.



Most insane goal I've ever seen and I've never seen one like it ever. I remember United were playing on the same night so I was flicking between channels but managed to catch it live but had no idea what had just happened until I saw the replay. He took the absolute piss on the biggest stage possible.
 
It's a shame that he never really shone in the World Cup. Arguably his best international performances came as a 20 (?) year old in the 1999 Copa America. A big part of that's down to Parreira for fecking things up in 2006 but the rest of his international career is still a bit of a black mark (given the talent he had).
 
I always remember this goal when AC and Barca were two of the best teams around. The way he turned Nesta....

Amazing player.

One of my favorite Ronnie moments and I remember it well - especially the celebration after, complete with waving his shirt to the blaugrana faithful. He really cultivated some emotion for the club that I think still continues because of him. I believe he was the one who started the prematch hugs that carry on today.

It's purely subjective to choose a 'best' of anything and certainly goals. Interesting that in total, he only scored 70 goals for Barcelona but almost all of them were beauties and were never celebrated alone - he always celebrated with his teammates and particularly focused on whomever provided the assist. He had a goal against Sociedad in his 1st season at Barcelona that was really emotional, late in the match - I remember thinking the team was poised for something special
 
One of my favorite Ronnie moments and I remember it well - especially the celebration after, complete with waving his shirt to the blaugrana faithful. He really cultivated some emotion for the club that I think still continues because of him. I believe he was the one who started the prematch hugs that carry on today.

It's purely subjective to choose a 'best' of anything and certainly goals. Interesting that in total, he only scored 70 goals for Barcelona but almost all of them were beauties and were never celebrated alone - he always celebrated with his teammates and particularly focused on whomever provided the assist. He had a goal against Sociedad in his 1st season at Barcelona that was really emotional, late in the match - I remember thinking the team was poised for something special


I agree, I watched his barcatv video on youtube. His celebrations and enjoyment is infectious. I also saw Rivaldo, underrated player.
 
I agree, I watched his barcatv video on youtube. His celebrations and enjoyment is infectious. I also saw Rivaldo, underrated player.

Rivaldo


Now he had a spectacularly memorable goal for Barcelona...Brasil have really had some special talents
 
The bicycle kick against Valencia?

Absolutely but more so for the manner & circumstances under which it was done - Barcelona qualified for CL play due to that result (Needing to at least draw) in the final match of a disappointing regular season near the end of the match. It was an electric atmosphere that you could feel even live on telly. Plus, it was on a visit to Barcelona for a music concert that I caught a footy match and was mesmerized by Rivaldo...and so it began
 
It's a shame that he never really shone in the World Cup. Arguably his best international performances came as a 20 (?) year old in the 1999 Copa America. A big part of that's down to Parreira for fecking things up in 2006 but the rest of his international career is still a bit of a black mark (given the talent he had).
Yeah, its a shame in the same way that Messi fails to show up for Argentina. Its crazy to think that two of the best players of all time just didn't produce on the biggest stage of all.
 
The WC has the prestige and it's not where the most competitive football is played. It would deserve a thread of its own whether the WC is the best competition in the world or not.
 
It's a shame that he never really shone in the World Cup. Arguably his best international performances came as a 20 (?) year old in the 1999 Copa America. A big part of that's down to Parreira for fecking things up in 2006 but the rest of his international career is still a bit of a black mark (given the talent he had).

That's where the World Cup is a telling longevity test for players from major nations. He was good in 2002 without excelling (probably only the 5th best player in the Brazil team) and went quickly off the boil in the summer of 2006. Agree that the '99 Copa was probably his standout international performance.
 
What are the odds for his international revival at the World Cup next year, leading Brazil to a triumph at their own soil? He'll be 33, it's not that old, and he's been doing very well back in Brazil lately (not sure if Scolari is going to call him up though).
 
Maradona wrote in his book that Zidane lacked soul in the way he plays, feck knows what he truly thinks of Messi in that case.
 
My theory is that he couldn't handle the pressure of the extremely high expectations about his performances in 2006. I remember that a lot of fans expected from him to make the next step and enter the highest bracket of players, the likes of Maradona and Pele. He failed and that reflected badly on his further career. He sort of lost motivation.
 
Funny how when compared to Ronaldinho, Messi would somehow be the Footballing "Robot" compared to the "Artist" Ronaldinho is, but when compared to C. Ronaldo, the same argument would be used only except this time Messi would be the "Artist".
 
Yeah, its a shame in the same way that Messi fails to show up for Argentina. Its crazy to think that two of the best players of all time just didn't produce on the biggest stage of all.

Players like Messi, Ronaldo and Maradona are players who live for the competition. When you see Maradona crying on the podium after receiving the Silver Medal in 1990, you'd know how much it hurt him not to win a SECOND consecutive World Cup. But for Ronaldinho, you get the feeling he's just someone who plays the game just for the sole enjoyment of it - Lost 1-0 to France in the WC2006 and still all smiles. Even during his time at Barcelona, I'd go as far to say that Eto'o was the guy whom they always relied on when shit hits the fan. I remember earlier on someone mentioned that he was a peripheral figure in the only CL Final he played in. It was true, he barely featured in the play and when Barca needed someone to get the job done, it was Eto'o, played out of position on the left who slipped the ball past Alumnia in the smallest of gaps to break Arsenal.
 
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/futebolbrasil/id/912?cc=5901

What's next for Ronaldinho?

Posted by Tim Vickery

Another magisterial free kick goal from Ronaldinho, this time against Guangzhou Everglade in the Club World Cup third place-off, serves as further testimony to the extraordinary depth of his talent. The way that he flitted around on the game's periphery, even against a team from China, was an all too eloquent statement of how much of this talent has been wasted.

What a puzzling enigma he is! The question is not easy to answer; should we be grateful for the fabulous moments Ronaldinho has given us, or frustrated that he could have delivered so many more of them?

A mixture of both is entirely possible -- and probably the only rational approach. When he was good, he was incredible. But this is a career that has been operating absurdly below potential for the past seven years. The best of Ronaldinho was all done and dusted by the time he was 26 -- just like George Best.

In the case of Best, though, the flaws and the problems were out there in the open. With Ronaldinho this is not so apparent. Best was honest about his demons. Ronaldinho, on the other hand, seems unable even to publicly admit that he has been betraying his own talent since 2006.
Perhaps, in this case as in so many others, the triumphs and the decline are two sides of the same coin. Ronaldinho in his pomp was a synthesis of the childlike joy that football can bring. But what came next is seemingly underpinned by an infantile lack of capacity to take responsibility for his own career.

Aspects of Ronaldinho may also stand as a symbol of his country. With his ready smile, he fits the image of somewhat shallow happiness that Brazil loves to sell. But the country is far more complex -- as the global media has been discovering this year ever since the protest movement hit the headlines -- and so too, it would seem, is Ronaldinho.

He was only a child when he was first mentioned by the Brazilian media. His brother Assis is ten years older. He was spotted by Gremio, a club in the family's home city of Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, a connection eased by the fact that their father worked at the club as a match-day doorman. Assis was seen as a youth prodigy. When he had just turned 18, Brazil's leading football magazine Placar published a piece on him, where he stated that his seven-year-old brother was the real star of the family.

Within the next year came the tragic event that would change their lives. The first big professional contract that Assis signed enabled the family to move out of poverty and into a plush neighbourhood, where they had a house with a swimming pool -- into which their father fell, hit his head and drowned.

It is entirely feasible that the sudden death of his father has left Ronaldinho with a deep sense of the precarious nature of life. Better to enjoy himself today because it might all be over tomorrow.

The other consequence of the untimely death of his father is more concrete. It meant that Assis explicitly took on the paternal role. Taking care of Ronaldinho became even more important than his own career. To this day Assis is in charge, dealing with the negotiations and making the statements. This has certainly given Ronaldinho a support structure. But it also carries a risk. A son will one day take over from the father, but a younger brother is always a younger brother. In Ronaldinho's case, the situation appears to have left him in eternal little brotherhood, a permanent state of infantility. Taking adult responsibility is something that does not come naturally.

Playing football, though, certainly does. Even at his lowest moments there has always been something to celebrate. I saw plenty of him in the time he spent with Flamengo, in my adopted city of Rio de Janeiro, during 2011 and the start of 2012. It will not go down as a high point in his career, but in every game there was usually something to treasure -- for example, I will never forget the way that brought a difficult ball under control in a match against Botafogo as if he had a suction pad on the side of his boot.

Many were clinging to hopes that he would have one final crack at World Cup redemption with the national team in 2014, and that he would use the World Club Cup in Morocco to stake his claim.

In truth, it always looked unlikely. Like his two predecessors, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari appeared already to have arrived at a definitive conclusion that from open play, Ronaldinho no longer has the capacity to tip the balance at the top level. It is hard to see how anything that happened in Morocco could have changed that and indeed, events on the field only served to re-enforce such a belief.

Though he can still play the odd eye-catching, defence-splitting pass, more than anything else, Ronaldinho has become a specialist free kick taker when he used to be an exuberant, joyful, one-man attacking force of nature.

Ronaldinho's 2014 redemption would be a great story. But it is not going to happen.