July 19, 2003 marked the start of a new era for FC Barcelona. The Samba wizard, Ronaldinho Gaucho, was signed by president Joan Laporta. Ronaldinho’s aura during his presentation, as he juggled the ball effortlessly, was nothing short of phenomenal. His charismatic smile, curly hair and Brazilian flair signaled that Barca had secured the signature of one of the all time- greats. This is the iconic journey of Ronaldinho at Barca and how he revived the glory of a struggling Barca.
Barca’s Iconic No. 10: Ronaldinho And The Revival of a Footballing Dynasty
A Club in Crisis: Barca’s Four Year Drought
May 22, 1999. Barca thrashed Deportivo Alaves 4-1 at Vitoria-Gasteiz. The win was special as let Barca win the league. The city of Barcelona danced as celebrations erupted. They obviously didn’t know that 6 years will pass before they lift this trophy again.
By the time Ronaldinho arrived at Barca in 2003, it had been 4 long seasons of no silverware. The team finished 6th in the league, barely getting a spot in the UEFA Cup. Coach Frank Rijkaard’s men had no sense of direction and fans were desperately waiting for a Messiah.
Culer’s prayers were answered when Barca finally signed Ronaldinho. After a remarkable performance in the 2002 world cup, Ronaldinho had obtained the reputation of a generational talent. The 23-year old, with his charming smile, gave culers the hope of rejuvenation.
Laporta’s Masterstroke: Securing Ronaldinho’s Signature
Getting the sign of Ronaldinho wasn’t an easy task. Laporta’s whole presidential campaign relied on bringing the Brazilian to Camp Nou. Manchester United was keen on signing the youngster and pushed hard, but Laporta won the battle as he secured Ronaldinho’s sign in a deal worth £21 million.
Ronaldinho was handed the iconic No. 10 shirt. Nearly 25000 fans witnessed the Brazilian magician in awe at his presentation, as he juggled the ball and balanced it on his head. The whole world awaited his debut.
Magic At Midnight: Ronaldinho’s Debut At Camp Nou
The Brazilian was set to face Sevilla FC on September 3. However, an issue arose as the national team also called the youngster for international duty on the same day. Barca tried to reschedule the match a day earlier, but league authorities did not allow this. So, Barca decided to hold the match on same day but took the timing forward to the early hours of Wednesday morning. The match kicked off at 12:05 at midnight.
Eighty thousand fans were there to witness Ronaldinho’s magic. The stadium was jam-packed and it amazed the Brazilian as he admitted, in a documentary:
“I’d never seen a packed-out stadium at midnight”
He scored an amazing solo goal that night, dribbling past two defenders and slamming the ball in the net. Although Barca drew the game 1-1, the goal was a sign of the brilliance to come.
Ronaldinho’s Legacy At Barca
Ronaldinho went on to become one of the greatest and most iconic players of all time. He transformed Barca’s future and began a dominant era at the club. The signings of players like Samuel Eto’o and Deco further reinforced Frank Rijkaard’s team. The team became a formidable unit. Barca had a remarkable run in league, and finished 2nd in 2004. However, the breakthrough finally came in the next season, as Barca went on to win the La Liga title in 2005.
By 2006, the Catalan giants had won back to back La Liga titles and won their first champions league in 14 years. Ronaldinho, of course, was the heart of this Barcelona team. He won two FIFA world player of the year awards during his tenure at Barca. He won the 2005 Ballon D’or due to his incredible performances.
The End of An Era
Ronaldinho won the hearts of everyone due to his unique style of play. He even got a standing ovation at the home of our fiercest rivals, Santiago Bernabeu, after scoring the last goal of a 3-0 victory over Madrid. He passed his torch over to Leo Messi on May 1, 2005 as he assisted Leo’s first goal. The iconic celebration of that goal is a thing to remember. Ronaldinho left Barca in 2008 and joined the Italian giants AC Milan. What a spell that was !
He is a guy who made me love the beautiful game, and I am sure I wont be the last one. His impact on football is beyond statistics and goals. Ronaldinho Gaucho finally retired in January 2018 as his brother/agent remarked:
“He has stopped, it is ended.”
It was the end of an era.