The Saturday Skills #3 – Ronaldinho

The Saturday Skills is a new feature on Just Football, in which we bring you a tonic to the detailed commentary, analysis and thought-provoking debate that we usually provide for you here in the form of some of the most jaw-dropping, aesthetically beautiful football skills we can find.

Last week we brought you Chile’s wing sensation Alexis Sanchez. But let’s face it – it was never going to be long until The Saturday Skills featured the man we all love, a man with more tricks in his locker than a magician in a gym changing room, the great Ronaldinho.

“I have no intention to leave Milan. This club will give me the push to play in the World Cup 2014 for Brazil,” said the playmaker after being called up to the Brazil squad for this week’s friendly against Argentina for the first time since Ronaldinho was surprisingly left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad by Dunga. However, Ronaldinho’s goal of playing at World Cup 2014 in his homeland now looks more unlikely than ever after a fairly non-descript performance in Doha.

Nevertheless, and despite the criticisms he has received, we mustn’t forget what a truly, truly great player Ronaldinho was in his prime, as the following clip demonstrates (and this is just one – there are countless others out there).

His incredible grace on the ball, poise, balance and skill are all wonderfully displayed in this video as he leaves players trailing in his wake countless times. Watching it I burst out laughing at least three times at the sheer audacity of his tricks.

This week may finally have confirmed that the man from Porto Alegre is officially past his best. But if that is the case, rather than criticise him for the player he no longer is, we should instead marvel at and revel in the incredible player he truly was.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

All-Time Greats, Brazil, Ronaldinho, Saturday Skills