PARTY-ANIMAL Ronaldinho celebrated his 40th birthday with a monster BBQ… in prison.
The Brazil legend is currently behind bars for allegedly using a fake passport to enter Paraguay.
Ronaldinho’s all-time Champions League XI, revealed
Down the years, Ronaldinho has enjoyed some incredible birthday bashes, including his 26th – when he partied until 6am – and his 32nd, which lasted five days and cost tens of thousands of pounds.
This year was a more tame affair…
But to celebrate his milestone birthday, we’ve taken a look back at his favourite all-time Champions League XI.
Picking the team back in 2015, the happy trickster couldn’t resist a strong Brazilian flavour.
Check out who makes the cut, and who doesn’t, below – with only one of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi named…
GK – Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is the main man between the sticks for RonaldinhoCredit: EPA
QUITE possibly the greatest goalkeeper of all-time, Buffon is still going – back at Juventus – at the age of 42.
Buffon has made 117 Champions League appearances, keeping 47 clean sheets in his glittering career.
Incredibly never won the tournament as Juventus’ quest for a first crown since 1995-96 continues.
RB – Cafu
Cafu is Ronaldinho’s choice at right-backCredit: EPA
RONALDINHO’S former Brazil team-mate, Roma and AC Milan legend Cafu gets the nod at right-back.
He played 54 times in Europe’s elite competition across six seasons in Italy and won the title in 2006-07.
CB – John Terry
John Terry starts in defence for Ronaldinho’s teamCredit: AP:Associated Press
JT played 109 times across 13 seasons in the Champions League – finally winning the title in 2010-11.
The England legend knows all about Ronaldinho too, having scored a late goal to cancel out the Brazilian’s stunning strike in the 2005 last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge.
CB – Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini played for AC Milan for 25 yearsCredit: EPA
ARGUABLY the greatest centre-half to ever lace up a pair of boots, Maldini was famously the defender who “never tackled”.
Maldini played in EIGHT Champions League (and European Cup) finals – winning five – including bouncing back from losing the Miracle of Istanbul in 2005 to beat the same Liverpool side two years later.
LB – Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos gets the nod in Ronaldinho’s XI at left-backCredit: Getty – Contributor
ADDING to the Samba vibe is left-footed, free-kick god Roberto Carlos.
The Brazilian played 103 times in the Champions League with Real Madrid and Fenerbahce, winning twice with the LaLiga giants.
CM – Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard won the Champions League in 2010-11Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
THE second of three Chelsea player on the list, Lampard makes the cut over the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta – the Brazilian’s former Barcelona team-mates – in the team.
Lampard, now boss at Chelsea, played 105 times in the Champions League, winning the 2010-11 trophy to boot.
CAM – Kaka
Kaka celebrates Champions League success in Athens in 2007Credit: Epa
MAKING the XI ahead of the likes of Zinedine Zidane is Brazilian tormentor Kaka
The attacking midfielder was at his peak in the mid-00s, during his time at AC Milan and Real Madrid – but won just one title, the 2006-07 triumph.
CM – Claude Makelele
Claude Makelele paved the way for the likes of N’Golo Kante to thriveCredit: Getty Images
BEFORE N’Golo Kante came on the scene, Makelele was the man making CDM sexy again – with the position even known as “The Makelele Role” to this day.
During his time at Chelsea and Real Madrid, the Frenchman played 84 times in the Champions League, winning the crown in 2001-02.
What Twitter thinks of Ronaldinho’s XI
- “I see no Scholes/Gerrard, or even Rio.”
- “Where is Xavi, Zidane? He is a Brazilian, that is why he put Kaka ahead of the great midfielders…”
- “Gerrard for Lampard though… Gerrard was a machine in the Champions League.”
- “Great line-up, but the fact that CR7 is not in either Henry or Ronaldo’s place…”
- “Ooooft, name a current day team that could beat that line-up?!?”
- “Oh Ronaldinho you missed your self over there. I’ll put you in place of Henry…”
- “This team will beat any other team ever…”
RW – Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi with his third Champions League victory, won at Wembley in 2011Credit: PA:Press Association
RONALDINHO assisted Messi for his first-ever professional goal – and the pair tore things up in Spain for years afterwards.
A man who needs no introduction, Messi has made 141 Champions League appearances to date, winning four titles across 16 seasons.
ST – Ronaldo
Ronaldo never won the Champions League with Real MadridCredit: EPA
THE “original”, Brazilian Ronaldo makes the team in place of Cristiano…
Ronaldo played 40 times in the Champions League with Real Madrid and Barcelona, scoring 14 times but never winning the trophy…
Spent many years with Inter Milan, then in the Europa League.
LW – Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry won the Champions League with Barcelona
FINISHING off the XI is Arsenal legend Henry.
The Gunners hero played 73 times in the Champions league, scoring 35 times – but never won the trophy with Arsenal, before finally winning towards the end of his career in Barcelona.
Watch Ronaldinho play in first prison Futsal match as Brazil legend scores FIVE in 11-2 win after fake passport arrest
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
