Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho officially announced his retirement from the game, more than two years since his last appearance as a professional.
The 37-year-old, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, last played in 2015 during a brief stint with Fluminense. His brother and agent Roberto Assis confirmed that Ronaldinho would not play again.
Ronaldinho became a household name after that World Cup win and he was revered for his outrageous dribbling and physics-defying goals. His five-year stint with Barcelona between 2003 and 2008 was his most successful one at club level, a period in which he won the Champions League in 2006 and Ballon D’Or in 2005, and also gained superstar status.
Ronaldinho’s retirement brought forth an outpouring of tributes on social media.
Ronaldinho career by No.:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 16, 2018
Grêmio
145 games
72 goals
PSG
86 games
25 goals
Barcelona
207 games
94 goals
AC Milan
95 games
26 goals
Flamengo
72 games
28 goals
Atlético Mineiro
85 games
27 goals
Querétaro
29 games
8 goals
Fluminense
9 games
0 goals
Brazil
97 games
33 goals https://t.co/DCfAlfDayh
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has announced his retirement from football 🇧🇷
— FourFourTwo ⚽️ (@FourFourTwo) January 16, 2018
La Liga 🏆🏆
Supercopa de España 🏆🏆
UEFA Champions League 🏆
Serie A 🏆
Copa Libertadores 🏆
FIFA World Cup 🏆
FIFA World Player of the Year 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/otBxOfEU4N
Zidane: "He's total class. A very great player."
— bet365 (@bet365) January 16, 2018
Messi: "Barca should always be grateful for everything he did."
Maradona: "He's one of the greatest players I have ever seen."
Beckham: "He's a genius with the ball, one of Brazil's greatest-ever players."
Obrigado Ronaldinho 💛 pic.twitter.com/w0EBDAIz32
The argument about Messi and Ronaldo will rage for millennia, but there will never be another Ronaldinho. He was magic. pic.twitter.com/gE2FFpR7qI
— Sam Homewood (@SamHomewood) January 16, 2018
Twitter was also flooded with GIFs showing the Brazilian’s unmatchable trickery with the ball. Outrageous would be an understatement for some of these moves:
Thanks for everything Ronaldinho, a truly world class & generational talent. Legend.
— Adam Joseph (@AdamJosephSport) January 16, 2018
When we was applauded by the Bernabeu after destroying Real Madrid, or his goal at Stamford Bridge will always be my biggest & favourite memories of him. pic.twitter.com/x1Vo7OvmgN
Ronaldinho Gaucho se retira oficialmente de las canchas. Cómo se extraña esa magia que hacía con el balón 🤙🏽 pic.twitter.com/sVIgUV4YxF
— Nahima Choura (@nahimachoura) January 16, 2018
Like, c’mon. pic.twitter.com/uOiLmnvdWv
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) January 16, 2018
BREAKING: Ronaldinho has announced his retirement from football
— NOW TV Sport (@NOWTVSport) January 16, 2018
Baller ⚽️🏆🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/G0kjLHiQbR
Anuncian la jubilación de Ronaldinho con un partido de despedida https://t.co/lkxGS6rq4G pic.twitter.com/vPdQfw0NxD
— RT en Español (@ActualidadRT) January 17, 2018
The most accurate definition of joy in soccer was, for a decade, a ball under Ronaldinho’s spell. pic.twitter.com/7ZYO6Ifjlz
— black identity extremist (@carIisIe) January 17, 2018
There was never a player who reminded us to play with fun more than this great Brazilian. Thank you #Ronaldinho #Legend #Brasiliero #Fun #JogaBonito 🇧🇷🤙🏽⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5Tz3RfvaIb
— LAFC Pat (@LAFCpat) January 17, 2018
¿Cómo va a poner esa asistencia?Ronaldinho no fue de este mundo pic.twitter.com/FcldUBY3wl
— Santiago Dávila (@sandavila88) January 16, 2018
Tweet does not exist
Some may have been more consistent. Some may have done it for longer. But the things I’ve seen Ronaldinho do on a pitch cannot be replicated. At his peak, he was better than everyone. pic.twitter.com/klXboImTFu
— 🇻🇨Paulo Di Balla 🌹 (@FEELZ_) January 16, 2018
He‘s better at keepy-uppies than I am at breathing. pic.twitter.com/7mRuyBxu03
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) January 16, 2018
El representante de Ronaldinho acaba de anunciar la retirada del crack brasileño. #obrigadoDinho pic.twitter.com/MVdiIC9O53
— Revista Líbero (@revistalibero) January 16, 2018
Ronaldinho’s brother has confirmed that the Brazilian has retired from football.
— FTS Football (@FromTStands) January 16, 2018
Farewell, legend...🇧🇷💔 pic.twitter.com/KBuQhXwPXu
Occasionally a fan of extravagance... pic.twitter.com/tzkBKKLgSz
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) January 16, 2018
#Ronaldinho dice ‘adeus’ al #Futbol, tras casi 20 años de carrera. Gracias por todo. #SiempreGallo #Eterno49 pic.twitter.com/ai8vJT8odc
— YOSOYOHO (@yosoyoho) January 17, 2018
Never did anything that he didn’t 10,000% mean to do intentionally. pic.twitter.com/vOCne7yGns
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) January 16, 2018
With inputs from AFP