Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has paid tribute to former World Footballer of the Year Ronaldinho after the Brazilian announced his retirement from football.
It was a career that was laden with cheeky flicks, amazing skill and
incredible goals, but all of that came to a halt on Wednesday when Ronaldinho announced his retirement, ending an illustrious 20 years football career.
The two veterans are widely considered among the greatest midfielders the game has ever seen. Ronaldinho was Okocha’s protégé at Paris Saint Germain before the latter’s departure for the English Premier League.
Okocha in his tribute to the former Barcelona man said: "Thank you so much my friend
for all the wonderful memories. Good luck for the future bro."
Thank you so much my friend for all the wonderful memories. Good luck for the future bro ✌🏾@Ronaldinho#legend🙏🏿👏🏿
Ronaldinho won two In his second season with Barcelona, he won his first FIFA World Player of the Year Award, as Barcelona won La Liga. The season that followed is considered one of the best in his career as he was instrumental in Barcelona winning the UEFA Champions League, their first in fourteen years, as well as another La Liga title, giving Ronaldinho his first career double.
After scoring two spectacular solo goals in El Clásico, Ronaldinho became the second Barcelona player, after Diego Maradona in 1983, to receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabéu. Ronaldinho also received his second FIFA World Player of the Year award, as well as the Ballon d'Or.o FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or.
He represented his country in two FIFA World Cups, and was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team in Korea and Japan, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio. Having achieved success at club and international level, Ronaldinho is one of seven players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.