WHAT HAPPENED?
The former Brazil star, who had an illustrious international career including winning the Copa America in 1999 and the World Cup in 2002, expressed his deep disappointment with the current crop of players through an emotional Instagram post. Ronaldinho did not hold back in his critique of the current squad as he pointed out the lack of notable leaders in the squad and the prevalence of what he termed as "average players."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
![]()
Ronaldinho's harsh assessment underscores the disappointment felt by many who remember the golden eras of Brazilian football, characterised by extraordinary talent and charismatic leadership. Their performance in the two pre-Copa America friendlies has raised more questions than answers. The Selecao laboured to a 3-2 victory over Mexico, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Endrick, but were held to a 1-1 draw by the USA - which prompted Ronaldinho to slam Dorival Jr.'s troops.
WHAT RONALDINHO SAID
In an Instagram post, Ronaldinho wrote: "That's it folks, I've had enough. This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer. It's getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority.
I've been following football since I was a kid, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I've never seen a situation as bad as this. Lack of love for the shirt, lack of grit and the most important of all: football. I'll repeat, our performance has been one of the worst things I've ever seen. Such a shame. I therefore declare my resignation. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa America game, nor celebrate any victory."
DID YOU KNOW?
Compounding Brazil’s challenges is the absence of their star player, Neymar, who is sidelined with an ACL injury. Neymar’s absence leaves a significant gap in the squad, further validating Ronaldinho's concerns about the lack of standout players and leaders as the Al-Hilal star has been a pivotal figure for the South American nation.
WHAT NEXT FOR BRAZIL?
![]()
Despite the criticism, there is still hope in the form of young talents like Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo from Real Madrid. These players have contributed massively to Los Blancos' La Liga and Champions League triumphs and will be key to Brazil’s campaign in Copa America. They kick off on June 24 against Costa Rica, followed by matches against Colombia and Paraguay in Group D.
