- Ronaldinho the Best - yet not a Legend?

[INFESTA]

Here's the truth. He will never be considered at that level until he retires and we get to reflect on him in the past. We never really compare current players to legends, but when it's all said and done I think he'll be right up there with Maradona. It's hard to compare to Pele because Pele wasn't quite "Magic" from what I hear, he was just the greatest goal scorer of all time, not the playmaker.

There are 2 things he needs to do before getting Legenday status:
1) Stay consistently on top for almost a decade
2) Lead his team to international success.

That's what puts players like Pele, Di Stefano or Maradona on a different level. From the last 15 years one and only one player alone qualifies for that Legendary status (so far), and that's Zidane.
Baggio could easily be up there too, had he not missed a certain penalty in 94. Ronaldo was just as good as any player ever to kick a foot-ball, but his reign lasted only 2 seasons.
And for the record, Maradona was already a living god before retiring.

So, to answer the original question: yes, Ronaldinho will be a Legend if he leads Brazil to next year's WC glory and stays on top for 3 or 4 more years. It is well within his reach.

 

[Pingtung]

There are 2 things he needs to do before getting Legenday status:
1) Stay consistently on top for almost a decade
2) Lead his team to international success.

That's what puts players like Pele, Di Stefano or Maradona on a different level. From the last 15 years one and only one player alone qualifies for that Legendary status (so far), and that's Zidane.
Baggio could easily be up there too, had he not missed a certain penalty in 94. Ronaldo was just as good as any player ever to kick a foot-ball, but his reign lasted only 2 seasons.
And for the record, Maradona was already a living god before retiring.

So, to answer the original question: yes, Ronaldinho will be a Legend if he leads Brazil to next year's WC glory and stays on top for 3 or 4 more years. It is well within his reach.

of all the most recent great players to come around I'd agree that Zidane will definitely become a legend when he retires. I'd disagree with you when you say that Zidane is the only one of the past 15 years to be a legend. Baggio would be one if he had made the pk and Italy had won, considering all he did that world cup. Then there's Romario who's performance in the 94 world cup can never be forgotten, not to mention the goal scoring machine he is. Ronaldo had his few years of brilliance before his injuries but he's still a decent striker and another world cup could secure his spot. Lastly I think Maldini is worthy of legendary status, his only fault is never winning an international title.

Ronaldinho is definitely on his way to becoming a legend and honestly all it would take would be a brilliant performance in the upcoming world cup and a few more years at the very top.

 

[Axolote]

Ronaldinho is evolving into a legend...

He needs IMO, a great CL, and in matches against teams like, Chelsea, Milan, Juve, Bayern, etc.

And a superlative WC, with great matches against the others giants (Argentina, Italy, England, Germany)

But he will be remembered.

And one of the most important things, he should played in Barca till the end of his career.

 

[Filipower]

for me, he's already legendary

second that

Ronaldinho is a l-e-g-e-n-d. :Bow:

 

[Hans]

You don't have to win the WC to be a legend.

Cruyff is a legend, Best, never even play in one is a legend, Cantona is a legend, Weah is a legend, Baresi is a legend, etc.

Lots of players becomes legend not because of their overall achievement but because they have stamped their name into the head of the fans who watched them. Legends are made by stories told by fans to their next generation, by the documentary of their excel performance while they are playing. Legends are loved by many, hated by many, and people will still talk about them for decades.

Ronaldinho has stamped his mark on our head. With his smile and quick elastico and ****in other tricks one could only imagine. I'm pretty sure, years from now an old Madrid fan will tell stories to his children about how a guy with a big smile raped their club, a Brazilian or an England will tell about how that same guy make a fool out of a keeper from 30 yards in the first ever Asia WC, or a retired Czech goalkeeper and a retired Portuguese defender will always remember the night when they're froze by a shake of an ass from that same guy. Ronaldinho will be talked about and will be remembered for years to come.

 

[Axolote]

You don't have to win the WC to be a legend.

Cruyff is a legend, Best, never even play in one is a legend, Cantona is a legend, Weah is a legend, Baresi is a legend, etc.

Yes of course...

I dont think that winning a WC is necesary to become a legend...

We are lucky to see playing Ronaldinho Live right now....we should be thankfull for this.

And he should stay in Barca for life.

 

[Filipower]

and for death too, a dead ronaldinho is better than alot of players right now

 

[Johnny_Big]

He is becoming a legend...if he plays like he has been playing in the next 4/5 years...he can do many things...and guide his team and NT to more trophys. Ronaldinho should be god...

 

[Filipower]

i don't even want to imagine if someday mourinho lays his hands on the barça team...:Bow: dark times for any other club in the world...dark, dark times...

 

[Payukgcn]

i don't even want to imagine if someday mourinho lays his hands on the barça team...:Bow: dark times for any other club in the world...dark, dark times...

Boring times for all you mean... Mourinho is a genius but his tactics are boring..

 

[yim87]

his off the pitch comments more than make it up for those.

 

[Sevillista]

Boring times for all you mean... Mourinho is a genius but his tactics are boring..

Mourinho would stifle Ronaldinho. Don't even go there.

 

[Brondbyfan]

I think there's a bit of confusion in this thread, we're talking about two different things. I do think Ronaldinho will be a legend. But there are different magnitudes when it comes to that term. Guys like Cruyff and Beckenbauer are legends, but they just aren't in the same class as Maradona and especially Pele. And that's what I thought the point of this thread was, will Ronaldinho reach that level. I say no. The level of the game is just too high, he won't dominate the way Pele did. In sports that are as established as long as football, we just won't see that any more.

 

[WilliamFAlmeida]

I agree that Ronaldinho hasnt even caught Ronaldo yet, but injury free I do see him surpassing R9. IF Brasil win the World Cup in 2006 then Ronaldinho and Ronaldo will automatically jump to legends, but not quite P&M status.
Ronaldo might as well, he'll be the WC's top scorer......
But Dinho is looking for a Maradona like performance to secure a higher status.


But its intresting because- no matter what Ronaldinho or Ronaldo do there are those who will still think they are only that good beause of their team

 

[Spurs4Life]

Zinedine Zidane has won everything, he has also scored a beautiful CL final goal, two World Cup final goals, won Italian and Spanish club titles, yet people still refuse to put him alongside the likes of Maradona and Pele, so it remains to be seen whether Ronaldinho or anyone else will EVER be mentioned in the same breath to take the mantle as "the greatest" alongside Pele and Maradona. One thing is for sure though Ronaldinho will definately become a legend.

As with any sport, people put "the greatest" on a high pedestal from which they can never be reached.

 

[ogsimon]

imo zidane is a legend.

Ronaldo is a legend also. Ronaldo is just the best player i have ever seen. I saw maradonna for a little while and he was awsome too.

But Ronaldo has to be up there with pele. Just awsome

 

[Bobby]

Boring times for all you mean... Mourinho is a genius but his tactics are boring..

I agree, unless you support the team than Mourinho's teams are horrible to watch.

 

[Andreas]

According to Opta, Frank Lampard is better than Ronaldinho.

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?...d=&lid=&title=Ronaldinho+better+than+Lampard?

 

[justhammy]

According to Opta, Frank Lampard is better than Ronaldinho.

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?...d=&lid=&title=Ronaldinho+better+than+Lampard?

LOL NEVER!!! Ronaldinho is way better!!!

And btw...Ronaldinho didnt reach R9 status! R9 was 17/18 when he played at PSV, then went later to Barca where he had that UNBELIEVABLE goal where he went past 6/7 defenders...then Inter where he played soo damn good that he already became the best after Pele! His WC2002 was GREAT too! So Ronaldinho has to do soo damn much to even get to the R9 status

To get past Pele is a different story...he needs to dominate the whole damn football world and get into the papers everytime he plays for a looong period of time! The same thing for Maradona! (wich i see as the best ever)

But only time will tell! If he surpasses R9 then ill be amazed!!
________
Vaporizer answer

 

[Andrejs]

Ronaldinho is over-rated, I rather have Fletcher- strong, fast, technical.