Many recall that before Lionel Messi, there was a diminutive Argentine in place at the Camp Nou who was set for great things: Javier Saviola. After having spent four seasons with Barcelona, he regards Ronaldinho as the most unique player he played with.
In 2001, the sky really was the limit for the striking sensation who arrived in Catalonia for a fee of around 35 million euros, making him one of the club's biggest ever signings at that time.
Saviola spent an initial period of three years with Los Cules between 2001 and 2004, before returning for the 2006/07 season after two season-long loan spells away from the club, and in both cycles he was able to play with Ronaldinho.
"I played with Ronaldinho when he was at his best; he did things that nobody else could," Saviola admitted in an interview with TyC Sports.
"He never came into the dressing room with a worried face or any sign of pressure.
"He always said that football was there to be enjoyed, that we were to have fun when we play, and that's what he did."
As with so many flair players over the years, Saviola had difficulties when working with Louis van Gaal, and this isn't something which the former River Plate goalscorer is going to deny.
"He was a very difficult coach to understand," he added.
"He was a complicated character who didn't let the players play.
"With [Juan] Roman [Riquelme], there was also a problem. It was difficult for everyone - Van Gaal was very complicated."
MuhammadFaizan
50
em also barca fan and I respect Ronaldinho who is ours legend.. but sorry to say that Messi Can everything in the pitch..
FootballFan18
46
When you take away trophies, stats and all the numbers around football, I truly believe Ronaldinho was one of the greatest players to ever lace up. And I don't mean he had a great trophy cabinet or he scored lots of goals, I mean in terms of the entertainment that he brought to his audience, he was one of the greatest to ever play. Ronaldinho was beautiful to watch. He is in my mind, above the debate of who is better based on their achievements and instead he was great based on how he did what he did. It was never all about goals or assists, not wins or trophies, simply watching a player like Ronaldinho was enough to love the game. Ronaldinho was simply so enjoyable to watch that even though his stats don't line up against some of the all time greats because he wasn't always consistent, I will always remember him as one of the greatest ever, because he played football like he loved every minute. He played like a school boy trying to impress his friends. He played football like it was a game that could be enjoyed simply by taking part, rather than by achieving or scoring. He did achieve. He did score. But he played the game with such joy that it was hard not to be mesmerized every time he got on the ball. Football is meant to be entertainment, It's not just about competition. And as a pure entertainer, for me, Ronaldinho is the greatest of all time.