Latest news with #Ronaldinho
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona - but he wasn't my best teammate'
Bojan Krkic played with some of the best players in the world during his time at Barcelona in the early 2000s and he believes Ronaldinho was the best of the bunch, despite also sharing a dressing room with Lionel Messi Former Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkic has snubbed Lionel Messi by claiming Ronaldinho was the best player he played with at the club. The ex-forward started his career with the Catalan side and was earmarked as one of football's most exciting prospects when he came through in 2007. Bojan would score 12 times in his debut season and ended up playing 163 times for the club before being sold to Roma in 2011. The Spanish star struggled to deliver on his huge promise, however and went on to play for Stoke City in 2014. He stayed with the Potters for five season and even played for them in the Championship as he rounded off his career with Montreal Impact in the MLS and Vissel Kobe in Japan. Bojan retired in 2022 and has since returned to Barcelona as the club's football coordinator for their La Masia academy - guiding the next generation of youngsters who will attempt to follow in his own footsteps. Bojan has spoken out about his time at the club, which occurred during an incredible period under Pep Guardiola that saw them conquer all before them, with superstars like Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and indeed Messi all playing alongside him. But he admitted it was Ronaldinho who stood out above them all. While acknowledging Messi's own brilliance, he said the Brazilian legend "had it all" and insisted "the whole team trusted him" when he had the ball at his feet. "The best player I played with was probably Ronaldinho," he told Portuguese outlet A Bola. "I know it's difficult, and almost unfair, to single out anyone, given that I shared the pitch with Messi, who played at the highest level for years. However, Ronaldinho, in my opinion, had it all. "He was an incredible playmaker. Whenever he had the ball – whether during the game or when he was preparing to take a penalty – the whole team trusted him. He really was a true leader. Ronaldinho dazzled fans for years with his incredible skills which saw him named Ballon d'Or winner in 2005. He joined Barcelona in 2003 and went on to score 94 times in 207 appearances, winning La Liga twice and the Champions League. Bojan was only able to play with Ronaldinho for one full season in 2007-08 before the Brazil star joined AC Milan at the end of the season. He played with Messi for four seasons before joining Roma in 2011-12, with the Argentine going on to become a club legend with an incredible 672 goals in 778 games. Bojan has now been able to cast his eye over the next batch of talent at Barcelona and believes Lamine Yamal is currently the best player in the world after dazzling at the Nou Camp aged just 17. He said: "There are many great players, but I would say that Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal is the number one at the moment. He shows undeniable potential and quality – without hesitation, I can say that he is the best player at the moment, and at the best club."
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Crow's Insane Football Skills Go Viral, Dubbed 'Crow-naldinho' By Social Media
With the UEFA Nations League knockouts set to start this week, football fever is high in India as well, albeit with a slight twist. Instead of humans kicking about a ball, an Indian crow is gearing up for the ultimate test. A video of a crow and a boy playing football together in South Goa is currently circulating on social media. In the viral clip, the crow can be seen passing the ball using its beak while the boy gently taps it back. The two continue passing the ball back and forth, engaging in a rondo that has enthralled the internet. The video shared has received hundreds of comments, with social media users amused by the crow's ability to lend the perfect weight to its passes. "Dude's passing is better than most Indian national team player," joked one user while another added: "Available on Sunday?? We have a match, need a striker with good heading ability." "Crownaldinho, cownesta, crowdini, crowdoski, crowmuller," commented a third, referencing popular players such as Ronaldinho, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller. Another said, "Crows are very intelligent birds. Ofcourse they can kick a ball as well. Lol." 🎥 | WATCH : A crow seen playing football with a kid in Goa. ⚽️🐦⬛ #90ndstoppage - FOOTBALL, IT'S IN THE BLOOD OF GOANS! 💙 — 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) May 21, 2025 Dude's passing is better than most Indian national team players — DHRUBAJYOTI PAUL (@Gilaaa_ZorDyyy) May 21, 2025 Football's connection with birds is not a new phenomenon. Mani, the parakeet of Singapore, gained international popularity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup by correctly predicting the winners of the knockout matches. Mani, who belonged to an old fortuneteller, predicted the outcome of a match by picking up a card with the flag of the nation that could potentially win the contest.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PSG old boys pay tribute to the club 🥹
PSG old boys pay tribute to the club 🥹 PSG clinched the Champions League this Saturday, May 31. A historic date for the Parisians who can now enjoy this much-coveted title. Luis Enrique's team is officially the champion of Europe. But before being led by Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, or even Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG was built with other names. Advertisement An already historic title praised by many former players. Ronaldinho, Neymar Jr, Lucas Moura, and even Kylian Mbappé paid tribute to their former club, on top of Europe. Also read: - PSG - Luis Enrique's praises on Inter Milan's behavior during the celebrations - The strong message from Marquinhos to Mbappé after PSG's triumph - PSG - Fabian Ruiz wants to highlight Luis Enrique after the Champions League triumph This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. 📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rio2C, Latin America's Largest Creativity Event, Reaches Record Attendance as Rio de Janeiro Aims to Build as Brazil's Film and TV Capital
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Rio2C, Latin America's largest creativity event, will gather from May 27 to June 1 in its sixth in-person edition, boasting a record attendance of about 52,000 participants and 483 executives from 39 countries. The continuous growth of the event, which this year has 'The Edge of Perfection' as its central theme, is a reflection of the strength of the film and TV and creative industry in Rio, believes Rafael Lazarini, CEO of Rio2C. More from Variety Netflix Brazil Unveils a 'Sintonia' Spin-Off, Soccer Shows on Brazil 1970, Ronaldinho and Neymar and a Scripted Series on Brazil's Biggest Ever Radioactive Disaster Gullane+ Nabs Distribution Rights to Cannes Classic Doc 'Para Vigo Me Voy' About Legendary Brazilian Filmmaker Cacá Diegues BrLab Unveils New Dates, Co-Pro Forum and Regional Spread Ahead of 15th Anniversary Edition (EXCLUSIVE) The city is the headquarters of South America's largest broadcaster and telenovela producer, Grupo Globo, and traditionally the country's main center of indie film production – the birthplace of the 1960s and 1970s Cinema Novo movement of auteurs such as Glauber Rocha, Nelson Pereira dos Santos and Caca Diegues. Tradition, the concentration of talents and the city's attractions, combined with government policies, paved the way for the building of a strong production sector in Rio. According to a study of Rio's City Hall, the features produced by Rio's companies accounted for 70% of the B.O. and 71% of the ticket sales in Brazil in the 1995 to 2024 period. Last year, according to the study, the share of Rio-produced pics rose to 90% of the total Brazil's B.O. and 88% of the total ticket sales, a trend that continued this year. The strong theatrical performance of two pics contributed for the recent rise of Rio's B.O. and attendance share: Walter Salles' 'I'm Still Here,' this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar winner, was released in Brazil Nov. 7, 2024, and 'O Auto da Compadecida 2,' helmed by Guel Arraes and Flavia Lacerda, opened Dec. 25, 2024. 'We can draw a parallel with the U.S., where New York City is the big business and financial center, while L.A. is the world's capital of film and TV. In Brazil, Sao Paulo is the economic center and Rio concentrates the bulk of the creative industry. Rio is Brazil's L.A., the main center of film and TV production in our country,' Lazarini told Variety. The Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, is expected to attend Rio2C 2025 to announce a package of incentives to Rio companies totalling 131 million reais ($23 million), of which the federal government will account for 100 million reais ($17.5 million) and City Hall with 31 million reais ($5.4 million). The coin will fund the production of pics and series, exhibitors, fests and training programs. Mayor Paes told Variety that City Hall will also announce in Rio2C a Film Friendly Seal, which Rio's film agency RioFilme and the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau will grant to reliable businesses in town that supply services and goods to international film and TV production. City authorities are convinced the natural beauties of Rio, its lively culture and people's diversity make it an attractive location not only for Brazilian productions, but also for the ones of foreign companies. Paes stressed to Variety that his administration created in 2022 a cash rebate to foreign producers lensing in Rio. The City reimburses international producers' of up to 35% of eligible expenses, according to the expected positive impact of the production on Rio's economy and image. In parallel, RioFilme streamlined Rio's Film Commission which facilitates the production of films, series, TV shows – including telenovelas of TV Globo and TV Record – and ad commercials, helping producers to dodge bureaucracy and other obstacles. Rio's Film Commission authorized a total of 8,782 lensing days in Rio in 2024, up from 7,885 in 2023 and 7,498 in 2022, according to RioFilme. 'We are one of the most filmed cities in the world. In 2023, we passed Paris and Mexico City in terms of total shooting days. In 2024, we had 505 productions here, of which 27 were foreign,' Paes told Variety. 'Rio's film and TV industry grossed 4.2 billion reais ($736 million) in 2023, up 68% in relation to 2019.' Warner's 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,' produced by Legendary Pictures, and Universal's 'Fast X,' from the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, head the list of international productions lensed in Rio in recent years. An obstacle for the expansion of the production sector in Rio, said Leonardo Edde, president director of RioFilme, was the lack of modern studios. TV Globo and TV Record have top-notch studios in Rio, but they are dedicated to the in-house production of the broadcasters' telenovelas and other shows. Indie producers had to resort to Polo Rio Cine Video, a complex of seven studios built by City Hall by 1988, or to small studios spread around town or to go to São Paulo. Polo Rio was an important project, but it did not receive enough investment, public or private, for many years, and the studios were outdated. 'Due to the lack of legal certainty, private companies were not willing to invest in Polo Rio. Renting contracts were standard ones, and allowed the City to evict companies renting studios within 30 days of notice,' Edde told Variety. 'So Mayor Paes, as soon as he took office in 2021, put together a public bid to select a company to manage Polo Rio for 30 years.' Sao Paulo-based studio and post-production group Quanta won the bid to the 30-year concession, which can be renewed for an additional 30 years. Marcelo Pedrazzi, a Quanta partner, told Variety they took over the administration of Polo Rio in July 2022 and have already invested in it about half of the 92 million reais (US$ 16 million) established in their concession agreement. The first step was to construct a new state-or-art studio to house at the end of 2023 the production of Amazon Prime Time's 'O Auto da Compadecida 2,' made by Rio's Conspiracao and H2O. The pic's setting of Brazil's Northeast drylands was recreated in the studio, which hosted 98% of the lensing, said Pedrazzi. Quanta has already constructed two other studios and renovated two old ones. It plans to have a total of 15 fully operational studios in Polo Rio by March 2026, he said. 'As Kevin Costner said in 'Field of Dreams', 'If you build it, he will come,' 'he' meaning the producers,' Pedrazzi told Variety. 'Sao Paulo leads in terms of advertising production. But, when it comes to entertainment, films and series, Rio is the largest market. Everybody wants to shoot in Rio.' Rio's plans for the creative industry are ambitious. The Mayor has submitted to Rio's City Council a proposal for the creation of a Creative District in Barra, not far from Cidade das Artes, where Rio2C takes place. Inspired by the Creative District in Madrid, the one in Rio will englobe a huge area that encompasses Globo's Burbank-like production complex, TV Record's studios, Polo Rio and other smaller studios, including the ones in the city's main convention center, Riocentro. At the District's center, in a large area that hosted the bulk of the Rio's 2016 Summer Olympics' events, the idea is to build a theme park, a resort, the Olympics Museum, a tower with offices, an ice skating rink, a theater and an area to host the Rock in Rio music fest editions every two years. As in Polo Rio, City Hall will select a private company to manage the complex for 30 years, the mayor said. 'Rio has a lot to profit from this project. The complex will generate 143,000 direct and indirect jobs in the 30 years of concession,' Paes told Variety. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I left Ronaldinho in my wake by using his own stepover against him, now I'm playing in the League Two play-off final
ALBERT ADOMAH once performed an audacious stepover that left Ronaldinho in his wake. So it is safe to say the Walsall winger will not be intimidated by facing Advertisement 4 Albert Adomah went up against Ronaldinho in 2011 Credit: PROVIDED BY JUSTIN ALLEN 4 Adomah, 37, is still going strong with Walsall Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The former Then incredibly he went on to play against him on his debut for Ghana in 2011 and had the pure cheek to glide past him with a trick out of the great man's repertoire. Adomah told SunSport: 'I was playing for 'I was up against Ronaldinho, a young Neymar, Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'Before I became a professional footballer I used to do Ronaldinho skills in street and cage football. I tried to imitate his skills so to be on the same pitch as such an iconic figure was a wow moment of my career. 'And during the game I did his trademark stepover. I've got a picture of me going past him. I thought, 'I've just skipped past the most skillful player ever.' 'But I got brought crashing back down to earth as the Brazil won the game 1-0 thanks to a strike from Leandro Damiao and after the game Adomah managed to snag shirts from Neymar and Pato. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But, almost as incredible as his audacious stepover, Adomah gave Neymar's shirt AWAY! He said: 'At that time everyone thought it was a done deal he was signing for Ex-Chelsea star Sam Hutchinson reveals he had HEART ATTACK in game he scored winner that sent Wimbledto playoffs 'But Neymar ended up going to Advertisement 'However, the picture of me going past Ronaldinho is a great memento and memory I'll never forget.' Adomah went on to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But fast forward to 2025 and he has had a remarkable season for a 37-year-old… having played in FIFTY-THREE games for Walsall. Although 34 of them have been off the bench, he has been a crucial impact player for Mat Sadler's men since deciding to drop down to the fourth tier after leaving Championship side QPR last summer. Advertisement 'I'M ONE OF THE FITTEST PLAYERS AT THE CLUB' He said: 'It's about keeping fit. Last season I only played 18 games for QPR. You get to a certain point in your career where the manager decides whether he wants to select you or go for a younger player. 'I still believe I can play and since day one here the manager has seen I'm one of the fittest players at the club. 'I'm not as sharp as I was before but can still manoeuvre myself around with the ball. My attributes are still there and I've played in more than 50 games. It doesn't matter whether you're starting or coming on a sub, everyone is part of what we're trying to achieve. 'It's up to how the manager wants to utilise his squad and being able to come on fresh and give the team extra energy to get up the pitch has worked well.' Advertisement This will be Adomah's fourth play-off final. He lost with Middlesbrough to Norwich under the arch in 2015 and again with Aston Villa against But it was third time lucky when he went up with Villa the following year after they saw off Frank Lampard's Derby. It ended three seasons outside the top flight for Villa and Adomah is proud he helped get the club back on the up. 'THE WORST FEELING IN FOOTBALL' He said: 'Losing a play-off final is the worst feeling in football. You just want to get out of the stadium straight away. Yet when you win you want to stay there until the next day and celebrate. Advertisement 'Promotion with Villa was a huge relief for everyone at the club because we'd failed the previous two seasons. 'There was a lot of frustration and anxiety among the fanbase. I remember a CABBAGE got thrown at our manager Steve Bruce at Villa Park just before he left the club. 'But Dean Smith came in and as a Villa fan was the perfect person to take the club back up. 'And it fills me with pride that we helped get them where they belong and now look at where they are six years later, competing in the Champions League and at the top end of the Premier League.' Advertisement Adomah has had a great career - from his Isthmian League days with Harrow Borough, League Two with Barnet, the Championship with a number of clubs and the Premier League at Middlesbrough. He said: 'The only division I've not played in yet is League One so it would be great to tick that off. I have no plans to retire yet. I've done my UEFA B coaching badges and am currently doing my A but I still have a couple of years left in me. 'It's been an enjoyable career… from park football to the World Cup. I can have no complaints.' 4 Adomah helped Aston Villa earn promotion back to the Premier League Credit: Getty - Contributor Advertisement 4 The winger headed to Walsall after leaving QPR Credit: Rex
