The day Ronaldinho showed Steven Gerrard he was on a different level in front of 90,000 at Wembley

Ronaldinho and Steven Gerrard are both among the best players of their generation.

Gerrard was an inspirational, all-action midfielder who many regard as the greatest player in Liverpool’s history. There’s absolutely no doubt that the Englishman is an all-time Premier League great, too.

But while Gerrard was a special player, Ronaldinho possessed talent that few – if any – footballers have ever showcased throughout the sport’s history.

The Brazilian gave joy to millions, perhaps even billions, of football fans across the globe thanks to his extraordinary ability. 

Capable of producing every trick in the book, and tricks that weren’t even in the metaphorical book before he lit up the professional game, Ronaldinho was a true one-off.

Winner of the 2005 Ballon d’Or and a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year (in 2004 and ’05), the only pity is that Ronaldinho’s star shone bright for only a relatively brief period of time.

He didn’t have the longevity as the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and this is why some football fans feel that he doesn’t quite belong in the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) conversation.

But regardless of where he sits on the pantheon of all time greats, it’s hard to think of a better showman than Ronaldinho. He always had fans on the edge of their seats and his skills alone were often worth the cost of a ticket.

There aren’t many of Ronaldinho’s opponents who weren’t humiliated by the South American at one point or another.

Even Gerrard was left skidding all over the pitch when Brazil played England in the first senior game at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in 2007.

When Ronaldinho received the ball in space midway through the first half, Gerrard must have known he was in big trouble.

The England