Legends of the Fall Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho pictured during his time at Barcelona

Ronaldinho looks all set to depart European shores once and for all despite the speculation linking him to Blackburn in what would be a sad good-bye to one of the best talents that the world saw in recent years.

The life of footballers is often trumped up as an exuberant and extravagant affair full of drinking, money, fame and women but amidst all that clamour at times one does feel truly attached to a certain persona.

Ronaldinho has been one of those players who is just so easy to love. He re-introduced the world to Joga Bonito and played a leading role in picking up a dilapidated Barcelona team and helping it back to its feet.

While the footballing world remains divided at the moment in deciding who among Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, another legend Ronaldinho seems to have kicked his last ball on this continent.

The two-time World Player of the Year looks set to move back to his homeland in search of some happiness and more importantly some first-team football after being sidelined by Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri this term.

For many of todays young fans, Ronaldinho will have been their first exposition to what has now become termed as beautiful football. For three years between 2003 and 2006, the Brazilian was synonymous with Barcelona and football.

As many have said before, the buck-toothed assassin brought joy back to the game with his ever-lasting smile and undying need to entertain. Watching him, made us want to kick a ball. Watching him, made us yearn being Brazilian.

While there may be severe critics of Lionel Messi who may say his greatness is amplified by his team-mates or those of Cristiano Ronaldo who may still claim that he is nothing more than! a show- boater, such accusations are unlikely to have ever been made of Dinho.

He is the man who humbled Real Madrid fans once again. He is the man who reintroduced the world to Barcelona. He is the man who for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona, made the Santiago Bernabeu give a rival player a standing ovation.

While it would be folly to talk only of his achievements and fail to highlight his downfall in the years following what was a monumental disaster for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup, I might be doing just that for if nothing else Ronaldinho certainly deserves a huge farewell party.

Last season under the guidance of Leonardo at AC Milan, it looked like he was reborn for a while, with the delightful touches, flicks and unreal ball control all on show once more. But that proved to be a false dawn as the Brazilian has hardly featured for the Rossoneri this time around.

Blackburns ambitious plan to bring him to England is as ill-conceived as Tottenhams move for David Beckham. The Brazilian has his mind set on returning to his country and is probably going to end up joining the club where he started his career at Gremio.

For the curtains to come down on a star at 30 is simply astonishing, but that has what football has become these days. And the Brazilian contingent of players in particular has paid a heavy price for their over-the-top lifestyle.

Nonetheless, Ronaldinho will always be for many the only player who you just couldnt hate. Fare well my friend, you will be sorely missed.

Picture: Getty Images

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