New Delhi: When Brazil won the 2002 World Cup, it was the 3 R's, the Golden Boot Ronaldo, the silken grace of Rivaldo and Ronaldinho who grabbed most of the headlines.
But few would have put Ronaldinho at the head of that celebrated trio after the dust settled in Japan and South Korea.
But four years down the line, Ronaldinho has come a long way ever since he started playing futsal, or indoor football as a child prodigy.
And not only is he Brazil's key man this time, but is also the finest player in the world.
Awarded the FIFA Player of the Year Award for two consecutive years, Ronaldinho has harnessed his undoubted brilliance well enough to make football the Beautiful Game it once was.
"Brazil always try and play beautiful football. We've got a style of play and we never change. Everyone considers us the favourites as we've got a squad of players with plenty of experience," Ronaldinho says
Inspite of the heavy schedule he has due to his career in the Spanish league with Barcelona, he produces his brilliance week in and week out, and does so with a smile.
With the likes of Robinho, Kaka, Juninho and Baptista likely to give him company at this year's World Cup, Brazil is the clear favourites, inspite of Ronaldo's triple chin and lack of pace.
The wizard however, plays down talk of Brazil being clear favourites.
"For me, I haven't got any favourites in football. Before the World Cup, there are no favourites. We live in the moment. We always play the maximum we can for the benefit of the team. So once the tournament starts, we'll have a better idea," Ronaldinho says.
And what we have seen of him so far can only be credited to the fact that he enjoys playing.
Now the figurehead of Brazil, Ronaldinho has silenced all doubters once and for all. And that means bad news for the other 31 teams who'll be trying to snatch Brazil's crown at Germany this summer.
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