When you think about players who epitomise the beautiful game, many names may spring to mind. However, no matter who you have this conversation with, one name is almost guaranteed to come up every single time: Ronaldinho.
In an age where a player’s ability is based more on statistics, players such as Ronaldinho are now very few and far between and the sight of ‘Joga Bonito’, meaning play beautifully, is now somewhat of a rarity. However, Ronaldinho epitomised this idea.
The magician may be best known for his never-ending catalogue of jaw-dropping skills and tricks but he was far more than just a trickster. During his time with Barcelona, between 2003 and 2008, the Brazilian scored 98 goals in 207 appearances and won the 2005 Ballon d’Or. He enjoyed domestic success as a Blaugrana and helped the club win the league title twice as well as winning the UEFA Champions League in 2006.
Furthermore, perhaps the greatest piece of recognition that Ronaldinho received throughout his career did not come in the form of a trophy and instead, came at the home of Barca’s greatest rivals– Real Madrid.
Let’s revisit the 2005 El Classico and how Ronaldinho’s brilliance earned him a standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Ronaldinho vs Real Madrid, November 19th 2005
Coming into this game, the anticipation was as you would expect going into Spanish football’s biggest fixture. Both sides had started the season well and the reigning champions Barcelona, who had ended their six-year wait for a trophy by winning the league the season before, were sat in second place, with the Galácticos of Real Madrid just one point behind.
Barca took the lead in the 15th minute after Samuel Eto’o took the ball from a teenage Lionel Messi before turning and brilliantly finishing past Iker Casillas. Following a fairly quiet first-half performance, Ronaldinho turned on the style after the interval and stunned the Bernabéu just before the hour mark.
After receiving the ball from Deco, Barca’s number 10 drove inside the Madrid half before leaving Sergio Ramos in the dust. He then advanced towards the penalty area before a quick body feint took him past Iván Helguera, creating the space for him to get a shot off and beat Madrid’s keeper at the near post.
Sections of the home fans could only applaud what they had witnessed but the magician was not done there. In the 77th minute, Ronaldinho again received the ball from Deco and fiercely drove at the Madrid defence. After gliding past Ramos once again, he opened up his body and expertly slotted past Casillas to claim his second of the game.
On this occasion, Madrid fans throughout the stadium knew they were witnessing greatness and large sections of the Santiago Bernabéu rose to show their appreciation for one of the greatest performances their sacred turf had ever witnessed. Barcelona won the game 3-0 that day but the headlines all surrounded their wonderful number 10.
A prelude for greatness
The ovation from the Madridistas that day is in itself, a reflection of the greatness of Ronaldinho. Therefore, it seems fitting that what followed his magnum opus was football’s greatest individual prize.
Two weeks after his wonderful performance in Madrid, Ronaldinho was awarded the 2005 Ballon d’Or award for the first and only time in his career. Nowadays, debates about who the best player in the world is are rife on social media as football looks to find its next icon following over a decade of dominance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
However, in 2005, there was no debate about who the best footballer on the planet was and Ronaldinho was deservedly crowned as the world’s finest. While there are countless matches and compilations showcasing the wonderful ability of the Brazilian genius, the joyous performance against Real Madrid in 2005 perhaps best encapsulates Ronaldinho and the Ballon d’Or that followed deservedly cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever play the beautiful game.