This is the end of an era. Ronaldinho, the last remaining active player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to have won the Ballon d'Or, one of the most joyous and fun footballers of all time, has officially hung up his cleats.
Dinho hasn't actually played competitive football since 2015, but his retirement rules out any chance of a return. Unless, of course, he returns.
‘Member the 2009 Nike Ronaldinho Dois boots? They were boss. They had the little cushions, making your control entirely like that of Ronaldinho's. They had the little multicolor seams, signifying that while you came to ball, you also liked to drink your fair share of caipirinhas on the weekend. With those boots, you transformed into a party animal, both on and off the pitch.
It's nice to know that at any moment Ronaldinho could be out there, somewhere, doing something outrageous in a charity match. It seems like he pops up every few weeks, does stomething outlandish then disappears into the ether, not to be seen or heard of until he pops up at another charity match to embarrass someone.
It's comforting, really.
When Barcelona visit the San Mames on Saturday to take on Athletic Bilbao, we’ll all bear witness to a historic matchup featuring two of the three clubs that’ve never been relegated from the top division — the other being Real Madrid. The history between the two sides goes way back, but perhaps no individual performer has shone as brightly as Ronaldinho when the Blaugrana have locked horns with los Leones.