The Trouble With Ronaldinho

Two-time FIFA player of the year currently languishing in career limbo.

His is a career that had, or some would say still has, the potential for greatness. Yet for all his natural talent a seeming lack of discipline has continually kept him from living up to his potential. 

He left Brazilian side Copa Libertadores for the European stage and Paris St. Germain in 2001. But even during his first years at PSG then manager Luis Fernandez complained that he was too focused on Parisian nightlife rather than football. Even so with his speed, ball control, and scoring prowess he was scouted by Manchester United, who were eventually outbid by Barcelona. 

He helped lead Barcelona to a league title in 2004-05 and was crowned FIFA player of the year for his efforts. The next year he received the honor again and scored both Barca’s goals in their 4-2 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League Final. He started in all five of Brazil’s 2006 World Cup matches although unfortunately the team and the man failed to make much of an impact as Brazil were eliminated by France in the quarterfinal. 

Many fans found it distasteful that he subsequently partied through the night and into the next morning.

Still, back at Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona, Ronaldinho enjoyed star player status up until the 2007-08 season when injuries dogged him through much of the campaign  When new coach Pep Guardiola took the reins at Barca the following year, one of his first acts was to sell Ronaldinho to AC Milan in an apparently successful effort to balance the side. 

After some initial success with the Rosseneri then Milan coach, Carlo Ancelotti, banished him to the bench, apparently for the same reasons Guardiola sold him. Since then he’s basically languished on the sidelines. Not part of the starting lineup for much of the last season, he was even snubbed for international duty by Brazil recently for the Confederations Cup. 

When he was sent in for Milan, often as a second half substitute, he consistently failed to make a difference. Mid-season reports had that he was so unhappy at Milan that he was going back to Barcelona on his off days to party in the city where he’d enjoyed his previous success. 

The season ended with Milan finishing an unspectacular third in Serie A and Ronaldinho just being another name in a constellation of stars that many feel are now on the verge of burning out.

But now Carlo Ancelotti has departed for Chelsea. Kaka is gone to Real Madrid, and David Beckham is back in L.A., his future with Milan uncertain. Will these openings in the lineup give Ronaldinho room to spread his wings and work his old magic again? 

Many have their doubts. Former Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi has stated, “It’s not a coincidence Barcelona sold him.”

What new Milan manager Leonardo has in mind for the team remains to be seen. But Ronaldinho has at least one person in his corner. Fellow Brazilian and AC Milan forward, Alexander Pato, in the wake of Kaka’s departure, has stated “We have a great group and Ronaldinho, who can still bring a lot of greatness to Milan.” 

Let’s hope so.