Ronaldinho scores stunning free-kick aged 44 as Barcelona legend proves he’s still got it in El Clasico Legends game
BARCELONA legend Ronaldinho rolled back the years by scoring a stunning free-kick in an El Clasico exhibition match.
The 44-year-old shared the pitch with Luis Figo, Clarence Seedorf, former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista and Rivaldo in Qatar on Thursday.
Barca went 1-0 up early on through Juan Pablo Sorin, before winning a free-kick from around 22 yards out.
Naturally, Ronaldinho stepped up and curled a beautiful right-footed effort into the top left corner past ex-keeper Francisco Buyo.
The former Madrid stopper – who is, it must be said, 66 years old – had no hope of reaching it.
The Brazilian World Cup winner doubled Barca’s lead inside 15 minutes.
But the Catalans couldn’t replicate the 4-0 pasting the current flock imposed on Carlo Ancelotti‘s Madrid last month.
The Madrid Legends eventually found a way back into the game, which went on to end 2-2 in Qatar.
Former Portugal winger and Ballon d’Or winner Figo, who played for both sides in his prime, brought one back for Madrid in the second half.
And Edwin Congo’s low finish in the 63rd minute levelled the score.
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It was Jose Mourinho‘s old foe Frank De Boer who fumbled the pass to put Congo in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Barca had a chance to win the game late on from the penalty spot, but Kluivert’s effort was saved by substitute keeper Pedro Contreras.
But Ronaldinho went onto score in the penalty shootout afterwards.
As did Figo, Congo and Sorin as the Catalan’s edged the shootout 4-2.
Ronaldinho‘s most famous free-kick was the effort he floated over England‘s David Seaman at the 2002 World Cup.
Ronaldinho’s son Joao Mendes joined Burnley‘s under-21 squad this summer.
The 19-year-old midfielder had previously been at Barca’s La Masia youth academy.
Mendes most recently featured in Burnley’s 5-0 win over Luton Town’s under-21s last Friday.
His father won the World Cup in 2002 and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006, and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
The legends will play in another El Clasico before the end of the year, with the halves lasting a slightly shortened 40 minutes each.
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