The Soccer Player Called an Alien

Ronaldinho wasn't just a player who scored goals. He was one of the few players who turned football into a 'show sport'. During his time at Barcelona (2003-2008), he captivated fans worldwide with creative plays like the Elastico and no-look passes. He led the team to win the league title in the 2004-05 season and the UEFA Champions League in the 2005-06 season, earning him the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005. His left-footed crosses and free kicks are still talked about today, and it's famous that a young Messi looked up to him as a role model. Behind his flashy skills lay exceptional football intelligence and vision to set up his teammates. After Ronaldinho, the symbol of 'enjoyable football' has been passed on to Neymar, and more recently, to various South American left wingers.