Turning Back The Clock: Remember When Ronaldinho Was Brilliant?

By: chris | July 7th, 2009

A commentator mentioned this game on television last night and it brought back a flood of memories. Memories from the days when Ronaldinho wasn’t just good, but @#$%ing brilliant. A player unlike the current crop duking out for world’s best. Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi can do amazing things and are magnificent players, but their overwhelming gifts are that they do the great stuff that much better than everyone else. Ronaldinho was on another planet; he did things that no one dared imagine, much less try.

The above is from that infamous Clasico match in 2005 at the Bernabeu when some of the home fans stood up and gave Ronaldinho a standing ovation for his virtuoso performance – perhaps the ultimate sign of respect. And now, he can’t even get a call to the national team. Still plenty of time left at 29, but it certainly looks like football has lost one of its true geniuses well before his time.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: Spain La Liga

Tags: Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Milan, Real Madrid, Ronaldinho, Spain La Liga

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• Rob |  July 7th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

  
  
  

  I do miss the Ronaldinho of 2002-5. He really was an exceptional talent.

  Posted from United States

  

• Juliet |  July 7th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

  
  
  

  Wow, what a game. Ronaldo, Ronadinho, Zidane, Becks… How much would you pay to go to that game now?

  Posted from United States

  

• Michael |  July 7th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

  
  
  

  Ronaldinho got too rich to care about being the best anymore. What a phenomenal talent he was. He’s just got so much style… he’s so smooth and coordinated and his touch is absolutely preternatural!

  Posted from United States

  

• fetyani |  July 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

  
  
  

  he will never be the same. that said, you will see another different great Dinho next season.

  form is temporary, class is permanent.

  Posted from United States

  

• James |  July 7th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

  
  
  

  I think it would make an interesting article: The Rise, fall, and possibly the new rise of Ronaldinho. He was one of my favorite players to watch and it’s a shame what happened to him. It seems he just lost touch with reality at one point.

  Posted from United States

  

• Flippy |  July 7th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

  
  
  

  I don’t have a link or anything, but Ronnie admitted on his “28″ birthday that he was actually turning 30, so now he is 31.

  Posted from United States

  

• Johonna |  July 7th, 2009 at 9:25 pm

  
  
  

  I remember flipping the channels one night in a hotel room in Milan. I hit a football game just in time to see Ronnie take a free kick. He timed the ball exactly to go under the jumping wall and it was in the back of the net before the opposing keeper even noticed. It was brilliant.

  Posted from United States

  

• CrimeCleaner |  July 7th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

  
  
  

  Man…I remember watching this live, I thought he was a God, wait..he was..

  Posted from United States

  

• hussain |  July 8th, 2009 at 7:38 am

  
  
  

  i think utd shd buy ronnie come on lets have one more great player back to form.

  Posted from India

  

• Nando |  July 9th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

  
  
  

  you’ll rite!! he was the best, but he still is… wait for his next season!! he’s gonna do the same thing he used to do… i remember the firs time a saw him playing. i started looking at soccer from a different point of view. he’s the best… he’s a player like no one else… next season is going to be the resurection of ronaldinho!!

  Posted from United States

  

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