Brazil legends Ronaldinho and Romario team up to prove they’ve still got it at beach foot volley tournament in Rio de Janeiro… with the former AC Milan star’s incredible MID-AIR flick setting up the winning point
- Legends Ronaldinho and Romario have not lost it despite retiring from football
- The pair were seen enjoying themselves at a Rio de Janeiro beach tournament
- The retired stars, whose combined age is 96, wowed the crowds with their skills
- Ronaldinho set up his partner with a sublime piece of skill to help win the game
Football legends Ronaldinho and Romario show they’ve lost none of the sublime skills that helped them become the best footballers of their generation as they enjoy themselves at a Rio de Janeiro beach tournament.
The retired players, whose combined age is 96, wowed the crowds with their impressive display and showed their appreciation for each other with regular high fives and hugs despite being rivals.
Former Barcelona and AC Milan star Ronaldinho, 41, displayed one of his trademark old tricks by turning his head away from the ball before trying to surprise Romario, now a 55-year-old politician, by sending it his way with a kicked-in serve.
Legends Ronaldinho and Romario have not lost it despite retiring from football (above)
Ronaldinho set up his partner with an incredible piece of skill to help win the match in Rio
At one point in the foot-volley match, which finished with victory for Romario and his partner, Ronaldinho’s teammate went down on one knee on the sand to hero-worship him after the retired striker set him up for a winning point with a mid-air flick.
The setting at the scenic Barra da Tijuca beach resort near Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beach was a world away from the prison in Paraguay where the Brazilian was pictured playing footvolley in March last year against inmates convicted of robbery and murder.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner practiced the sport to let off steam while he was in custody following the fake passport scandal that led to his arrest.
Ronaldinho, who was allowed to fly back to Brazil at the end of August last year, said he was keen for a rematch with Romario on Tuesday as he posted footage of some of his memorable moments against his famous rival.
He wrote alongside a photo of him embracing the goal machine at the end of the game: ‘It was a pleasure to participate and it’s always a joy and an enormous pleasure to see you my bro. When do we play again?’
Romario, who posted a longer clip with more highlights of their match which ended with the moment Ronaldinho rushed onto his side of the pitch to throw his arms around him, said: ‘A legendary duel which could only finish with a marvellous moment like this.’
Afterwards they heaped praise on each other with Romario calling Ronaldinho a ‘showman’ and Ronaldinho, who at the start of the month scored a hat-trick at an exhibition football match at the Estadio Reis Pele in Brazil, describing the legendary finisher as his idol.
Romario started his political career in 2010, when he was elected deputy for the Brazilian Socialist Party. He was then elected senator in 2014 before switching his allegiance to another left-wing party in 2017.
After his prison hiccup last year Ronaldinho has continued to pursue his interests in music.
He was pictured surrounded by half-naked ladies in his first music video of 2021, recorded for a single by Brazilian rap group Tropa do Bruxo.
Footvolley is similar to beach volley but without the use of your arms and hands. Games are played with your head, chest, thighs and feet in maximum three glasses over a net.
Normally matches are two against two, barefoot on the sand, on a beach volleyball court.
