Ronaldinho Finally Comes In From The Cold
Posted on: August 24, 2008
Brazil’s Ronaldinho © AFP Daniel Garcia YOKOHAMA, Japan (AFP) -After spending six months frozen out of football last year, Ronaldinho has come in from the cold to help Brazil into the World Cup final against Germany.
The story of their campaign may have been the rebirth of Ronaldo, but it is the Inter Milan star’s 22-year-old team-mate who has done as much as anyone to keep Brazil on course for a fifth title.
Ronaldinho’s blinding pace unhinged England’s defence in the quarter-finals to set up a goal for Rivaldo, and his audacious free-kick caught out David Seaman to seal a 2-1 victory for Brazil.
Arguably he has been the most important component of Brazil’s vaunted ‘Triple R’ strike-force, surging forward from just behind Ronaldo and Rivaldo and pulling opposing defenders out of position.
“It’s a real plus that he is coming back for the final,” Ronaldo said, commenting on Ronaldinho’s return following his suspension for a harsh sending off against England. “We’ve replaced him very well so far, but he is a match-winner.”
That Ronaldinho has sparkled at the World Cup should come as no surprise.
He was hailed as the new boy-wonder of Brazilian football after starring in Brazil’s winning 1997 FIFA Under-17 World Championship campaign, a tournament he finished as top scorer.
He confirmed his burgeoning talent at the 1999 Copa America, scoring an extraordinary individual goal against Venezuela which has passed into Brazilian folklore.
His talents at that tournament attracted the attention of several clubs in Europe, and early last year he looked to have completed a dream move from Gremio to France’s Paris Saint Germain.
But within days the transfer ran into problems.
Gremio, insisting they had not sold him, appealed to FIFA for intervention leaving Ronaldinho languishing on the sidelines and barred from playing until the dispute was settled.
It rumbled on for close to six months before PSG were eventually ordered to pay a transfer fee to Gremio that finally allowed the Brazilian youngster to relaunch his career.
A period of transition followed, with Ronaldinho taking his time to find the sort of form that had helped make him one of the hottest properties in world football. Slowly but surely, PSG’s fans were able to see for themselves what the fuss was all about.
His prowess from free-kicks and some memorable individual goals were the highlights of a disappointing season for PSG this year.
Utusan Malaysia
My Soccer World 
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