Against the panoramic blue background of the coastal Israeli city of Haifa where he played a friendly with old friends like Rivaldo , Roberto Carlos or Kaka , Ronaldinho Gaucho , at 39, admits that he longs for football and does not intend to coach, but focus in the development of schools for children. His answers are not as wide as his smile, the size of his own medal winners (Champions, Libertadores, Mundial, etc). The smile that the symbol of the beautiful jogo made vindication of a different way of understanding football and life.

What do you feel in the reunion in the field with such illustrious players? It is a great emotion to return to Israel where people are very affectionate to me. Playing again with friends with whom I played a long time ago is a joy, of course. Two years after retirement, do you miss football? Yes. Although I feel completely fulfilled by what I did, sometimes when you watch football, you miss it. You have won many titles but the feeling is that with your talent you could have been more dominant in your time. Is it why I considered football as a fun rather than a job? I think I have conquered everything possible. What else can I ask for? (laughs) Therefore, I feel completely fulfilled. Everything I've dreamed, God has helped me conquer it. I can't ask for more. When I was a child who started in the Guild, did I think what would go so far? Yes, I always dreamed of this. Following in the footsteps of my idols, God has been very generous to me and things went well for me. Al Barcelona, ​​who was several years without winning a title, came almost as a savior ... I did not arrive as a savior but as an important piece in a project with a great coach and great players who arrived and with those already there. I was lucky to arrive at a very important moment for the club. A moment of many changes and some things went very well. And in Barça's training he sees an Argentine kid who barely spoke, Leo Messi. He said you were a reference. Was it difficult to predict what it would end up being? It was very difficult to know because he was very young but everyone already spoke that in the lower categories of Barça there was a very talented young man. Then we met and started playing together. For me, it is a matter of great pride to have participated in the beginning of his career. Did he give you any advice? No, he already knew what to do. We have always talked from friend to friend. Thank God, we still get along very well. There is talk of a Barça tribute match ... Yes, there is a possibility to do so next year. It's something that makes me happy for everything I've been through at the club. How do you see Barça? The league? Do you follow it from Brazil? Yes, I follow it. I'm not looking at the 90 minutes of the games but the best moments, the goals ... For me, Barça continues to be one of the best in the world, not to say the best and has the best player in the world for 10 years Who is the Brazilian who is most identified by his game? Neymar: Without a doubt, Neymar is our biggest idol in Brazil today. I love your style of play. Whenever I have a chance to see him play, it does me good. I hope everything goes well for him. Would you have liked me to return to Barça? I like my friends to be happy no matter where. But it is logical that I would love to see him again in Barcelona with Suárez, Messi. Together they did amazing things. What were the best and worst moments during their sports career? The worst are the small injuries. It is the worst thing that can happen to a player. Luckily, I had very few. The best moments are the conquered titles. It is something special and I was lucky to win them in all the teams where I was. With which coach have you felt more comfortable and played better? Frank Rijkaard, no doubt. A great coach who made everything very easy. He knew why he also played at a great level. Then everything went smoothly. For me, he was the coach who taught me the most. Did you enjoy more with a goal or with a dribble making a hat? I always liked everything in football. Goals I always liked and give assists even more. Dribbling was always what I have done since I was a child. For me football was always something perfect and beautiful. I understand that your dream is linked to music ... Yes. My family was always in music. It is something that I love. I spend a lot of time in music. What was football for you? A way of life and joy? Soccer was my life. Since I was a child, I have only done this. The biggest reason to make me happy was the ball. So whenever I was with the ball I was happy. I am fortunate to have done the things I liked most for many years.

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  • Neymar
  • Leo Messi
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  • First division
  • FC Barcelona
  • Brazil National Soccer Team

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