sport news Ronaldinho's star appeal is as bright as ever, 20 years on his brilliant goal ... trends now
Ronaldinho's travelling circus came to rest in Miami, and the swish hotel dominating the skyline in the shape of a gigantic guitar buzzed with South American legends evoking an era when football moved to a different rhythm.
There was Rivaldo, mingling in his pink vest and distressed denim shorts. There were Ivan Zamorano and Rene Higuita reporting for duty.
And Carlos Valderrama, unmistakable at 60 beneath a mass of curls and wearing a tee-shirt emblazoned with the image of his friend and fellow Colombian international Higuita.
Former Barcelona and Brazilian star Ronaldinho's travelling circus came to rest in Miami
Ronaldinho prefers a lower profile, these days, but his brother and advisor Roberto Assis and his manager Rodrigo Alvim, a former left-back and teammate when the Brazil icon was in the twilight of his playing career, at Flamengo, were out in the lobby drumming up business.
Various schemes are already in full swing. These include the popular exhibition matches in partnership with Roberto Carlos, branded 'The Beautiful Game', the first of which took place in South Florida on Saturday.
And other charity games to promote, such as the third game for peace, scheduled for Rome's Olympic Stadium in October.
Last month, Ronaldinho joined Dani Alves and Maxi Rodriguez in a visit to Pope Francis, who blessed the ball and an olive branch.
Ronaldinho has been rebuilding his life and reputation in the two years since his arrest
There is also an official range of NFTs dubbed Dinhos to sell, and Team Ronnie is exploring more opportunities to invest in and around football and sporting apparel.
This is how Ronaldinho has been rebuilding his life and reputation in the two years since his arrest and detention after entering Paraguay on a fake passport while under an investigation into unpaid taxes.
He resides for much of the time in Dubai, where the tax rules are more to his liking, but he is often in Rio de Janeiro. Or he is simply out on the road, being Ronaldinho.
It is 20 years today(TUE) since his swerving free-kick made its indelible mark on England, embarrassing veteran 'keeper David Seaman and settling the World Cup quarter-final in Shizuoka, Japan.
It is 20 years since his swerving free-kick made its indelible mark on England at the World Cup
'An important goal for me,' shrugged 42-year-old Ronaldinho, last week, when reminded of the impending anniversary.
'People ask about it all the time, but it was special because it was in the World Cup and it was the last time Brazil won the World Cup so it's special. One of the most special moments in my life.'
It is his most famous act in Brazil colours and Ronaldinho has never flinched from the narrative that he knew Seaman was off his line and went for goal, deliberately finding the top corner from 45 yards and out on the right.
It is his most famous act in Brazil colours to settle the World Cup 2002 quarter-final tie
Ronaldinho claims he knew David Seaman was off his line as he scored from 45 yards out
Others on the scene that day think differently. England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, writing in his autobiography Sven: My Story, published in 2013, said: 'Did Ronaldinho mean to aim for goal or was it just a lucky shot?
'I asked him that in Portuguese several years later. He laughed: 'But Sven you know it was a shot'. 'You're lying,' I told him. I was 100 per cent sure that he did not mean to shoot.'
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari remains equally sceptical. 'In my opinion, he tried to cross,' Scolari told Sportsmail in an interview in February.
'Every time we get together, we joke about it. I tell him: 'I don't believe that you tried to put that ball in. You couldn't have seen David Seaman out of the goal.'
'He answers: 'No, coach, I had studied him, I knew he did that.' And we burst into laughter. I still believe in my idea and he believes in his. The important thing is we were able to score the goal.'
