On Tuesday night at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium, Real Madrid and Barcelona Legends — at various stages of clearly enjoying their retirement — squared off in an El Clásico that featured players like Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Deco, Roberto Carlos and Luís Figo.
The 41-year-old Ronaldinho was the star of the show as he’s continued the impressive form he showed while in a Paraguayan prison.
There’s something so beautifully singular about Ronaldinho. Give him a football and he immediately transforms from a middle-aged man into that 23-year-old personification of grace that sashayed around the Camp Nou.
Ronaldinho practicing his old tricks in the warm up tonight. pic.twitter.com/gpyomaG9kU
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) July 20, 2021
Ronaldinho came close to scoring in the 20th minute after driving into Real’s area before unleashing a shot that cannoned off the crossbar.
Ronnie hits the woodwork!@10Ronaldinho
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 20, 2021
But seven minutes later, the Brazilian opened his account from the spot.
Ronaldinho flashed a familiar celebration after scoring in the Legends El Clasico
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 20, 2021
Ronaldinho, as they say, still possesses that intangible quality we call “it.”
Some of the players could never even imagine this ! pic.twitter.com/4BSRmQ8FKS
— © Sam © (@Fcb_samsath) July 20, 2021
Pedro Munitis equalized for Real before Alfonso Pérez put Los Blancos up before halftime. Jofre Mateu drew Barça level at 2-2, but Rubén de la Red eventually found the winner for Real.