Ronaldinho

[gazza27 15,292]

What a player

[McEwan's Lager 30,619]

I remember his debut kicked off at 5 past midnight or something crazy because Sevilla, Barcelona and the LFP all had an argument over the timing and date of the match.

Edi: Wasn't his debut, it was his home debut.

[Inigo 32,534]

For a two year period he was best in the world. Possibly the most enjoyable to watch footballer in my time. One of the few that can make it look like a dance.

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

One of the most entertaining players the game has seen.

Some of the stuff he done was incredible. There have been better players than him but you would just get a buzz every time he played. He was pretty unique. His brain, skillset, imagination and execution were on another level. Always played with a smile on his face too.

[Inigo 32,534]

For that two year period he was top 5 of the last 30 years level. Superb player.

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,609]

My favourite non Rangers player in my lifetime, always seemed to play like it was a hobby and not a career, and some of the things he can do with a ball at his feet is beyond unreal

The night the real fans stood and applauded him after his second goal against them, the night he made ramos look like an amateur player is one of the best performances you'll ever see, 

And the kickings he took over the years and he went back for more 😂😂

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

6 minutes ago, Inigo said:

For that two year period he was top 5 of the last 30 years level. Superb player.

Off the top of my head I would be thinking Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, Zidane and Ronaldinho.

Xavi, Iniesta, Maldini (pretty much every Italian defender of the 90s!), Rivaldo, and a few others would be in the mixing pot though.

[Inigo 32,534]

6 minutes ago, Laudrup1984 said:

Off the top of my head I would be thinking Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, Zidane and Ronaldinho.

Xavi, Iniesta, Maldini (pretty much every Italian defender of the 90s!), Rivaldo, and a few others would be in the mixing pot though.

I'd say for that two years or so I'd have him at just about Messi and Ronaldo level. He just falls back a bit overall because he didn't quite sustain that level for longer. Faded very quickly into his 30s.

[Inigo 32,534]

Some of the few others I can think of would  be Laudrup and Romario. Wasn't a massive fan of Rivaldo, personally.

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

1 minute ago, Inigo said:

I'd say for that two years or so I'd have him at just about Messi and Ronaldo level. He just falls back a bit overall because he didn't quite sustain that level for longer. Faded very quickly into his 30s.

Sorry that wasn't my order. Don't really have an order. Not really that important. I guess Messi and Ronaldo are top 2 for the level and consistency they have achieved. I like them both. You can't compare them let alone compare a Ronaldo to a Maldini. A Ronaldinho to a Koeman or whatever. The Messi/Ronaldo fights between their uber fans is hilarious. Just enjoy them both. Enjoy all great players as sadly there are not many around today IMO.

There's not really anyone like Ronaldinho though. Closest you would get is possibly Jay Jay Okocha. He was another great entertainer. Not nearly as good but still incredible to watch. He'd be on Soccer AM every week doing some amazing trick or another. In fact did they both play against us as well as Arteta and Poch when we knocked them out on pens?

[Inigo 32,534]

On 19/07/2020 at 14:31, Laudrup1984 said:

Sorry that wasn't my order. Don't really have an order. Not really that important. I guess Messi and Ronaldo are top 2 for the level and consistency they have achieved. I like them both. You can't compare them let alone compare a Ronaldo to a Maldini. A Ronaldinho to a Koeman or whatever. The Messi/Ronaldo fights between their uber fans is hilarious. Just enjoy them both. Enjoy all great players as sadly there are not many around today IMO.

There's not really anyone like Ronaldinho though. Closest you would get is possibly Jay Jay Okocha. He was another great entertainer. Not nearly as good but still incredible to watch. He'd be on Soccer AM every week doing some amazing trick or another. In fact did they both play against us as well as Arteta and Poch when we knocked them out on pens?

Yeah, didn't take that as your top 5 in order, was just saying separately that he was up at Ronaldo/Messi level for a few years. That top 5 group is about right for me. 

Top 10 in the last 30 years is probably them, Laudrup, Romario, fat Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta in some kind of order.

And yeah, beating that PSG team was something else looking back on it. Didn't appreciate it as much at the time.

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

40 minutes ago, Inigo said:

Yeah, didn't take that as your top 5 in order, was just saying separately that he was up at Ronaldo/Messi level for a few years. That top 5 group is about right for me. 

Top 10 in the last 30 years is probably them, Laudrup, Romario, Maldini, Xavi, Iniesta in some kind of order.

And yeah, beating that PSG team was something else looking back on it. Didn't appreciate it as much at the time.

Yeah Laudrup will always be my hero. To see him in the flesh week in week out was something else.

It's mad the quality of player that probably don't make the top 10. Baggio, Raul, Baresi, Matthaus, Bergkamp, Henry, Hagi, Stoichkov, Carlos, Nesta, Cannavaro, Del Piero, Signori, Batistuta, Kaka, Figo, Boban, Suker, Moeller, Sammer, Papin, Shevchenko, Desailly, Pirlo, Drogba, Zola, Cantona, Gerrard, Shearer. I could go on all night! 

Some of the teams we beat (and/or outplayed) is pretty insane. The Parma, PSG, Bayern, Marseille, Leeds teams were mad. Outplaying Bayern in Munich. A young Ferguson schooling Effenberg at Ibrox. Them were the days.

[peter huistra 1,740]

Is he not coming out of retirement , once his house arrest is over , to play for Maradona . 

Or did I dream that ? 

Was a great player and made people love the game that little bit more. 

[dummiesoot 16,013]

Great player n serial partier and shagger. Top bloke

[hammer93 15,057]

Standing ovation at the bernabeau one Sunday night after he destroyed Real

[heathen fish boy 8,585]

loved watching him,he would attempt some random stuff and just laugh if it never came off,genuinely loved playing the game

[Creampuff 22,628]

You could give a dozen creative players 20 minutes and a sketch pad and they wouldn’t come up with half the stuff Ronaldinho improvised in a big-game situation. 

There may be players better, but never players like him.

[.Williamson. 82,679]

9 hours ago, hammer93 said:

Standing ovation at the bernabeau one Sunday night after he destroyed Real

Bent

[.Williamson. 82,679]

16 minutes ago, Creampuff said:

You could give a dozen creative players 20 minutes and a sketch pad and they wouldn’t come up with half the stuff Ronaldinho improvised in a big-game situation. 

There may be players better, but never players like him.

You auditioning for sky sports commentary or something there

[TheKingObv 10,647]

Stupidly good technically and absolutely solid on the ball. The way John Terry bounces off him for that goal always makes me laugh.

[hammer93 15,057]

5 hours ago, .Williamson. said:

Bent

That's Spaniards for ye

[sassaaaa 11,406]

On 19/07/2020 at 14:40, Inigo said:

Yeah, didn't take that as your top 5 in order, was just saying separately that he was up at Ronaldo/Messi level for a few years. That top 5 group is about right for me. 

Top 10 in the last 30 years is probably them, Laudrup, Romario, Maldini, Xavi, Iniesta in some kind of order.

And yeah, beating that PSG team was something else looking back on it. Didn't appreciate it as much at the time.

Ronaldo has never been at Messis level.........

[Steelydan1690 20,228]

24 minutes ago, sassaaaa said:

Ronaldo has never been at Messis level.........

Lol

[Essandoh 21,224]

Overhead kick vs Villarreal

A guy that size performing that from such a low height, still can’t get my head round it

[ayrshireranger 8,161]

When he came on the scene, I thought he was the best Brazilian player since Pele. And given those 30 yrs had given us Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo, Romario......