Delight in Barcelona at another award for Ronaldinho

By Duncan Shaw Dec 19, 2005, 21:32 GMT

FC Barcelona\'s Brazilian Ronaldo de Asis Moreira \'Ronaldinho\' (L) followed by Italian Valerio Vertoto, of Udinese, during their Champions League soccer match at Nou Camp stadium, in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, Tuesday, 27 September 2005. Ronaldinho won the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the second time on Monday, 19 December 2005 ahead of England\'s Frank Lampard and Cameroon\'s Samuel Eto\'o. EPA/TONI ALBIR

Madrid, Spain - Catalan media can hardly control their delight at Ronaldinho again winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

On Monday night the Barcelona megastar received the latest award in Zurich, with his mother Miguelina again by his side.

This is the second year running that Ronaldinho has won the award, which is voted for by the coaches and captains of all the world's national teams.

The playmaker finished well above second-placed Frank Lampard and Barca colleague Samuel Eto'o.

Three weeks ago, of course, Ronaldinho won the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award. He is also in line to win the FIFA pro award given out by his fellow professionals.

'Not to give the award to Ronaldinho,' Barcelona sports paper Mundo Deportivo said in its online version Monday, 'would have been a terrible injustice, so much has he achieved this year for both Barca and Brazil.'

Rival daily Sport claims that 2005 has been 'the year of Ronaldinho's consecration at world level'. Sport points out that he has been 'absolutely fundamental in the rebirth of FC Barcelona', who swept to their first Spanish league title in six years last May.

Sport also claims that Ronaldinho's two goals in Stamford Bridge - in Barca's creditable 4-2 Champions League defeat in March - have been 'really important' in this award.

But, according to Sport, Ronaldinho's 'greatest moment' was his performance in Madrid in November, when he 'silenced the Bernabeu with two astonishing goals' and led Barca to an impressive 3-0 triumph over their old enemies.

The Catalan media have spent half of Monday scoffing at Real Madrid's latest crisis - Sunday's 1-1 draw against Osasuna leaves Real eight points behind leaders Barca - and the other half praising Ronaldinho for picking up yet another award.

According to Catalan television channel TV3, 'the really big mistake of (Real president) Florentino Perez - amongst all his other mistakes - was to sign David Beckham in July 2003 instead of Ronaldinho.'

Perez reportedly said in private that 'Ronaldinho is too ugly to play for Real Madrid'.

Barcelona promptly stepped into the breach, signing the Brazilian from Paris Saint-Germain for a 25 million euro fee that today looks cheap.

'This was the most important single decision in the resurrection of Barca,' said El Periodico de Catalunya on Monday.

'Ronaldinho's juvenile optimism and euphoria have been contagious, spreading to his team-mates, the directors and, of course, to the fans.'

Ronaldinho, still only 25, recently signed a contract extension until 2012. He could turn out to be the most popular player ever to turn out in the famous red and blue stripes, more beloved even that Pepe Samitier, Ladislas Kubala, Luis Suarez, Johan Cruyff, Hristo Stoichkov and Josep Guardiola.

But Catalan media are also to quick to point out that this brilliant Barca side - which has won its last 12 games in Spain and in Europe - no longer depends completely on Ronaldinho.

On Saturday, Frank Rijkaard's rampant side romped to a 3-1 win down in Cadiz - with Ronaldinho at home suffering from flu.

'Two years ago,' says Mundo Deportivo, 'Ronaldinho was absolutely fundamental to this team. Last season he was crucial ... Now he is important, but the team has improved and longer depends on him.'