The former two-time winner of FIFA Player of the Year (winning it in back-to-back years, 2004 and 2005) hasn't been the player he once was while in Spain, playing for Barcelona, or in Italy, playing for AC Milan, but the 32-year-old striker received a surprise call up to the Brazilian national team, for the game against England (played Feb. 6).
"Ronaldinho may be 32 but last year, he had a spectacular championship with Atletico Mineiro, where he was the leader of team," said Brazil's manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, according to Reuters.
For Ronaldinho, after being left out of the 2010 World Cup team by the then-manager Mano Menezes (who was replaced by Scolari last year), this could be his last chance to shine.
"I hope that, after all the things I have been through, I can help the younger players," Ronaldinho said, according to Reuters.
Though, he made it clear that he wasn't there to play the "father figure" role.
"I don't see myself as the group's father figure,[sic] I'm just another player who happens to have had a lot of experience with the team," reported Reuters.
Scolari's hope: that Ronaldinho's inclusion can lead to a spark for a team that is currently ranked 18 in the world, according to FIFA.
"He has leadership qualities and he is good enough to play for several years," he said to Reuters.
However, Scolari was also quick to point out that his decision isn't a permanent one.
"He will show me whether I am right or wrong to cap him once again and he will have to show how quickly he can integrate into the team," added the man known as "Big Phil" throughout the international-soccer community.
Ronaldinho was positive that through his play, he would show the manger that he still belongs on the biggest stage, in top-flight soccer.
"My style remains the same. I play the same way I played before. It gives me great pleasure to return to Europe, having played here for such a long time. It is a great pleasure to be back," he said to The Daily Mail.
Unfortunately for him, though he was including in the starting 11, he failed to make an impact and Brazil lost 2-1, at Wembley Stadium, in London, England.
Time will tell if Scolari feels that Ronaldinho has a future for Brazil or not.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
