John Mac Ghlionn

What happened to Ronaldinho?

He never quite lived up to his potential

  • From Spectator Life
(Getty Images)

Cast your minds back to 2005, a time when it was considered cool to record your favourite song to use as a ringtone on your phone, iPod Nanos were everywhere, the Crazy Frog drove every parent in the country crazy, and Ronaldinho was named the best football player on the planet.

A lot has changed in the 18 years since, The Crazy Frog has been permanently silenced, no one (except yours truly) still records songs to use as ringtones, and Ronaldinho has served time in prison. What happened to him, a man who was, for sheer entertainment value, arguably the best football player to ever walk the face of the earth?

When it comes to derailed careers, there appears to be something in the Brazilian water

The Brazilian legend, now 43, once appeared solely on the back page of newspapers. Today, you are more likely to see his name appear on the front pages.

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