The childlike genius is calling time.
Ronaldinho’s retirement from football was confirmed on Tuesday by his brother and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira. In an interview with Gente Boa, a column in O Globo, Assis said farewell games are already being prepared.
“He stopped,” Assis declared. “Ended. Let’s do something pretty big, 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 a game with the Brazilian team.
Ronaldinho last played in 2015, when he joined Fluminense and a predictable sequence of events unfolded. The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year had his contract ripped up just over two months after joining the Tricolor, and exited having made just seven appearances. As Tim Vickery wrote about his seventh and final appearance, he wandered around the pitch “like a long-retired player who had turned up for a charity match.” It was clear he wasn’t in good enough physical shape.
It wasn’t the first time that Ronaldinho, once one of the most glamorous names in football, failed to make an impact. Before his spell at Fluminense, Gallos de Queretaro showed him the door, ending their relationship after …read more