Ronaldinho played for Barcelona from 2003 to 2008. Messi, a native of Barcelona Youth, made his first team debut in 2004 and left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
In the summer of 2006, Barcelona went on a pre-season tour of the United States. Ronaldinho won the Champions League and Primera Liga under then-coach Frank Rijkart.
According to The Athletic, Ronaldinho introduced Messi to his longtime friend, NBA star Kobe Bryant. It was when Messi was 19 years old.
Ronaldinho said, “I’ll show you a friend who will be the best player of all time.” Kobe said, “What do you mean? You’re the best,” he replied. Ronaldinho said, “No. This kid here will be the best.” “That was Lionel Messi,” Kobe recalled.
However, it was reported that Ronaldinho was sold for bad influence on Messi in the last years of Barcelona. In 2008, Pep Guardiola gave up Ronaldinho.
The Athletic said, “At that time, Ronaldinho’s professional consciousness almost disappeared.” I didn’t train properly and I went out more frequently. It started to have a negative effect on soccer. Some players acknowledged this as true,’ he said.
Ronaldinho has flatly denied claims that he had an adverse effect on Messi.
The Athletic said: ‘Messi had amazing footwork in his early days but that was it. He was so quiet that he was speechless at the same time as he had amazing talent,’ he said.
The hero who awakened Messi’s potential was Ronaldinho. 메이저사이트
The Athletic said: ‘Ronauinho saw through both. He thought Messi should feel comfortable. He approached Messi. I made sure I didn’t get scared because of the stars around me. I sat next to the locker room,’ he explained.
Ronaldinho said, “I debuted around the same age. I knew exactly how difficult it was for a talented player to be in a dressing room full of adults. So I treated Messi like my own brother. I just showed fellowship so that everything possible was natural,” he recalled.
The Athletic said, “Messi would have become the world’s best player even without Ronaldinho’s touch. However, it is clear that Ronaldinho formed the most important relationship in Messi’s early days. Barcelona was already Messi’s team when Ronaldinho left. Ronaldinho has done his job and left,’ he said.