TThere are plays here that are remembered by what they see, and plays that are remembered by what lies behind them.
In Ronaldinho’s case, it’s often the latter.
Some of his most memorable actions started not in matches, but long ago, with something that seemed like just an idea at the time.
Or even madness.
That has now taken shape in the documentary series Ronaldinho: The One and Only, in which the Brazilian recalls one of his favorite free-kicks.
A match in which a player decided to take advantage of the jumping moment and pass the ball under the wall instead of lifting it over the wall.
One move wasn’t enough
Ronaldinho said he had tried it before. In training, try minimal space and look for the ball to pass through the gap left when the wall jumps and blocks the shot.
Some didn’t take it seriously.
The idea seemed more like a bizarre experiment than something that could be applied to a game.
But he stayed there and showed up at the right time.
During the game, he read the plays. He knew that the wall would jump and there would be an empty space on the ground for a moment.
So he decided to attack.
The ball went through everyone and landed in the goal.
But what changes reading is not the play itself, but the understanding that the play was not born there.
That it wasn’t a spur of the moment reaction, but a decision that was considered for some time, even if it didn’t seem to make sense.
And it ties into something that has always accompanied his style of play.
Not all of his actions were spontaneous.
Even if it doesn’t seem like it, it may have already been thought of. All they needed was a moment when they no longer thought it was impossible.
