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“Give me a ball and I’m happy,” Ronaldinho had said beforehand. It turned out, because not a moment before since he arrived in Belgium on Monday, did he shine more than among ex-colleagues.
Koen Van Uytvange
Until the gala match between the ‘legends’ of AA Gent and Standard, everyone wanted a piece of him. Selfies, autographs, a handshake: the 42-year-old star is never at ease. That is why the Brazilian got his own dressing room in the Ghelamco Arena. The Brazilian delegation – only six people strong – also had an entire hotel floor.
But on the field he was finally freed from a bodyguard and he could fraternize. Some he already knew: Oguchi Onyewu, ex-teammate at AC Milan or Khalilou Fadiga, himself world famous. “What a humble guy, the way he talked to everyone,” said compatriot Renato Neto, star struck. In the ‘match’ more no-look passes were given than there were tights. When R10, who showed an elastico and a schwalbe, came to the ball himself, the (almost full) stadium started shouting. Only some former pros sometimes felt more like to shine themselves than to give the public what they wanted.
The legends of Standard won 2-4 after goals from Vandooren, Legear and Ronaldinho (2). One even turned out to be a no-look goal. On Thursday he will fly to his next destination: Ecuador.
The 0-1 came from Legear’s foot. The ex-player of Standard was excellently served by Gonzague Vandooren, the man with the golden left. A few minutes later, the same Vandooren put the 0-2 on the board with a volley after a wonderful no-look pass from Legear.
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During the second half, Ronaldinho was also able to score twice, albeit from the spot and with a (no-look) tip after a great combination with Paul-José Mpoku.
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