Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaucho or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and ambassador for Barcelona. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder, but was also deployed as a forward or a winger. Often considered one of the best players of his generation and regarded by many as one of the greatest of all time. He was renowned for his technical skills and creativity; due to his agility, pace and dribbling ability, as well as his use of tricks, feints, overhead kicks, no-look passes and accuracy from free-kicks.

Accomplishments:

Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or.  In his second season with Barcelona, he won his first FIFA World Player of the Year award,  as Barcelona won the 2003–04 La Liga title. The season that followed is considered one of the best in his career as he was integral in Barcelona winning the UEFA Champions League, their first in fourteen years, as well as another La Liga title, giving Ronaldinho his first career double. After scoring two spectacular solo goals in the first 2005-06 El Clasico, Ronaldinho became the second Barcelona player, after Diego Maradona in 1983, to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabéu. Ronaldinho also received his second FIFA World Player of the Year award, as well as the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldinho accumulated numerous other individual awards in his career. He was included in the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFA World XI three times, named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2006 and the South American Footballer of the Year in 2013, and was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world’s greatest living players compiled by Pelé.

Ronaldinho was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team in Korea and Japan, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio, and being named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. As captain, he led Brazil to their second FIFA Confederations Cup title in 2005 and was named Man of the Match in the final.

Tactical Analysis:

Ronaldinho’s excellence in game doesn’t need any analysis yet let’s talk about it;

Delayed Runs from Midfield: Ronaldinho scores lots of his goals by using this technique where he delays his runs from the midfield and allows the defenders to take their positions. And once the defenders are settled around other players, he makes late runs inside the box to score goals.

Space Recognition: Ronaldinho’s awareness of not only space but the opponent’s defenders also is amazing. He recognizes spaces quickly and also keeps checking his surroundings to see the movements of the opponents defenders.

Creating spaces for teammates: Ronaldinho is biggest weapon. The opposition only tries to stop Ronaldinho when he has the ball which leaves his teammates unmarked and so it creates lots of chances to score as he passes the ball.

The Free Kick Taker: Ronaldinho is team’s 1st choice for taking free kicks and why he wouldn’t be. He is so good in converting the dead ball into the goal.

Vision/Creativity: Roaldinho’s vision of the game, pitch , teammates and opponents is so good. He looks for the chance and creates creative passes.

King of Dribbling: Ronaldinho is the king of dribbling. His ball control is so good. His dribble ratio is far beyond the reach of any other player. His dribbling skill helps him a lot in moving the ball up.

There’s a lot to talk about Ronaldinho !

Weaknesses:

Ronaldinho’s height is a factor in his weakness. Due to his short height, he is not so good with headers. Even though he jumps, but his conversion rate is not so good. He is also not very good with crosses. And he is also physically weak.

Despite all his weaknesses, Ronaldinho’s performance is always top class. And his weaknesses don’t affect the results.