Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández attributed Ronaldinho’s mid-career performance drop to a psychological decline rather than late-night socializing. Speaking in an interview with Prakhar Gupta, the current Netherlands national team coach explained that the Brazilian playmaker’s output dipped after he secured La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
Mentalities That Diverged at Camp Nou
Ronaldinho achieved every major team and individual honor during his peak years in Catalonia, establishing a dominant standard before his influence on the pitch began to recede. “Ronaldinho won absolutely everything: La Liga and the Champions League with Barça, and the Ballon d’Or. And then, he would think, it’s fine, I did it all,” Xavi said.
🔵🔴 Xavi reflexiona sobre la mentalidad de Ronaldinho: ¿Le afectó la fiesta?, ¿salir por la noche le privó de tener una carrera mejor?Fuente: Prakhar Gupta pic.twitter.com/ckONH3RKP5
Xavi contrasted that trajectory with Lionel Messi, who maintained elite production across two decades. While Ronaldinho felt his professional obligations were fulfilled, Messi’s internal drive demanded continuous escalation. “If you compare it, for example, to Leo Messi, Ronaldinho was like… I’ve already done my job. And Messi wanted more. He kept going and going. That’s because of mentality, not parties. It happened to many players,” Xavi stated.
Parallels Found in Neymar’s Career Path
The former Spain international, who won the 2010 FIFA World Cup, extended his assessment to Neymar Jr. The Brazilian forward enjoyed a productive spell at Barcelona, capturing the Champions League before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain.
Xavi identified a similar psychological shift during Neymar’s career trajectory. “It also happened to ‘Ney’. He had a great period at Barcelona, where we won a Champions League and then he signed for PSG. In this case, I also think it was because of mentality,” Xavi noted.
Distinguishing Between Elite Competitors
“When you don’t understand that the mentality is decaying, dropping well, and you aren’t the same player,” Xavi concluded, “it didn’t happen the same way, for example, with Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, who are like beasts.”
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