Ronaldinho retires

Mr.Nice Guy

According to his brother and agent, Ronaldinho has retired. He hasn't featured for a pro team since 2015.

Roberto Assis confirmed the news of his brother’s decision in a column for Brazil media outlet O Globo and revealed plans for farewell tribute events following the 2018 World Cup – three years after Ronaldinho’s last club game.

“He has stopped, it is ended,” Assis said. “Let’s do something pretty big and nice after the Russia World Cup, probably in August. We will do various events in Brazil, Europe and Asia and, of course, we are arranging something with the Brazilian team as well.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/16/ronaldinho-retires-from-football-brazil-barcelona?CMP=share_btn_tw

He's had many standout moments in football but I think my favourite is when he tore Madrid apart at the Bernabeu and their fans gave him a standing ovation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LlOUiDeidU

One of the great iconic players of the 2000s. I remember watching him play for Mineiro on ESPN about six years or so when they'd show Brazilian games and he still produced the odd great moment here and there.

What are your favourite memories of him?

jk23

Wish he had joined united in 2003, might not have got c Ronaldo then but Ronaldhino for Barca in 03/04 was unreal

ShaneU

I'll never forget this goal, something else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fygu4KrxJqc

Rekop dog

Always raised his game for the biggest occasions. Was always the thorn in Milan sides when the two best sides of the of the 2000's faced off together. Proper showman, you don't get many anymore.

~Rebel~

Loved him as a player. His current borderline fascist political movements in support of Jair Bolsonaro kind of takes the shine off him for me now though...


<edit> for those interested. https://jacobinmag.com/2018/01/ronaldinho-jair-bolsonaro-brazil-lula

NIMAN

Absolute genius. Pleasure to watch him play.

And his political leanings will not change my opinion of him!

Richard Hillman

Outrageously skillful, whist using it for practical purposes.

~Rebel~

NIMAN wrote: »

Absolute genius. Pleasure to watch him play.

And his political leanings will not change my opinion of him!

Doesn’t change my opinion of him as a player, but it does as a person.

Iused2likebusts

I was at Barcelona v osasuna in 2005 and ronaldinho gave the greatest individual performance I have ever seen live. It was outrageous some of the stuff he was doing. Gave a through ball with his backside at one stage. When soccer am used to be somewhat interesting half that showboating section would be about him a fair few weeks.

Esse85

Sensational player, that goal at Stamford Bridge from a standing position was world class. Played the game how it should be played, with a smile on his face and to entertain.

Free kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oq974EmpBo

GavRedKing

Great player and entertainer those 4 or 5 years at Barca were brilliant but his lifestyle choices caught up with him.

Had he been more professional he'd probably go down as one of the greatest players of all time.

He also knew a thing or two about spotting talent, after winning the Balon D'or he said :

This award says I’m the best player in the world, but I’m not even the best player at Barcelona.

He was of course talking about a 17 or 18 year old Messi.

The Floyd p

Fabulous talent, almost silly in how naturally gifted he was. Too bad he didn't take things more seriously. He was done as an elite player by 27 or 28 max. An all time great talent, not all time great player. Played with an eye for the romance of the game, but didn't stuff the stat sheet enough.

LuckyLloyd

He did lead Athletico Mineiro to the Copa Libertadores in 2013, aged 33, and was named South American player of the year. Just as a slight counterpoint to the 'was washed up at 28' viewpoint on him. Dunga's decision not to bring him to the 2010 World Cup was ultimately a mistake in my view. He was still a force at Milan the two year's before it. He was obviously less consistent by that point and less mobile, but he was still a great player imo.

Of course, Rondaldo / Messi have since redefined impact on results as a great player with their ability to produce unbroken years of 1 gpg+ / 0.5 apg+ across 50 - 60 game competitive seasons. It's a level of output Ronaldinho and the other great players of his time never came close to. I know they played slightly different roles, but Ronaldinho in your team at his pomp in his mid twenties didn't carry the same inevitability of the big trophies that Ronaldo / Messi do.

Leaving all that aside, he was of course phenomenal to watch at his best. Capable of doing it all at the drop of the hat.

keano_afc

Incredible to watch and one of the best on his day.

Cant help feel he should have achieved even more though. He was away from the very top far too soon.

Too Tough To Die

The Floyd p wrote: »

Fabulous talent, almost silly in how naturally gifted he was. Too bad he didn't take things more seriously. He was done as an elite player by 27 or 28 max. An all time great talent, not all time great player. Played with an eye for the romance of the game, but didn't stuff the stat sheet enough.

Of course he's an all time great, that's ridiculous. He could've done a lot more in the game though, no arguing against that.

The Floyd p

Too Tough To Die wrote: »

Of course he's an all time great, that's ridiculous. He could've done a lot more in the game though, no arguing against that.

Well I suppose it depends on how you define all time great. To me he doesn't make up a top 20/30 all time so perhaps I'm being too harsh :rolleyes: