Former Barcelona and AC Milan star hits back at critics.
Atletico Mineiro star Ronaldinho is delighted to have joined a prestigious group of players after winning both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores.
The 33-year-old secured the title after Mineiro battled back from a 2-0 aggregate deficit against Olimpia before triumphing on penalties.
Goals from Jo and Leonardo Silva helped get them get back into contention, but Ronaldinho has undoubtedly played an integral role in their recent success since moving back to his homeland.
The Brazilian international now joins an elite group of players to have won both the Champions League and the South American edition, along with Dida (Milan-Cruzeiro), Cafu (Milan-Sao Paulo), Roque Junior (Milan-Palmeiras), Walter Samuel (Inter-Boca), Juan Pablo Sorin (Juventus-River Plate), Santiago Solari (Real Madrid-River Plate) and Carlos Tevez (Manchester United-Boca).
In addition to a disappointing performance against England at Wembley back in February, Ronaldinho has received a lot of negative press since his move back to Brazil, but answered his critics in the best way possible with further success.
“This is the reason why I returned to Brazil. This is the one trophy that was still missing,” Ronaldinho was quoted as saying by Reuters, as reported by Goal.com.
“Everyone said that I was finished and that my time was over. Let them talk now…”
It follows the Brazilian’s success with Barcelona in the Champions League back in 2005-06, when he was heralded as the best player in the world at the time.
Naturally as age has caught up with him, Ronaldinho can no longer produce at that high level, but nevertheless his contribution in the Libertadores run has proven he has plenty left to offer as he eyes a place in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad for the World Cup next summer.
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