BRAZIL legend Ronaldinho has retired.
The former Barcelona forward, 37, has not played a match since leaving Fluminese in 2015.
His brother and agent, Roberto Assis, confirmed: “He’s quit football, it’s over.”
But the party-loving Samba star is looking to celebrate ending his explosive career with a bang.
Assis said: “Let’s now do something nice [his farewell], big as it should [be], after the Russia World Cup, maybe in August.
“We’ll do some events now around Brazil, Europe and Asia. Of course, we’re also arranging something with the Brazil national team as well.
“Nike [Ronaldinho’s long-time sponsors] will be with us together on this project, there are no details yet.
“For now we’re arranging a programme, a schedule. The fact he’s been Barcelona’s ambassador for ten years now will help a lot abroad. He’s held in the highest regard there.
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“There are now three arranged events – Mexico will be the next one, on March 1.”
Ronaldinho began his career in Brazil with Gremio and spent three years at the club before signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2001.
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Former PSG team-mate Jerome Leroy explained how the larger-than-life Brazilian would train just once a week as he was too busy partying.
He said: “Ronaldinho didn’t train any day of the week and would just turn up on a Friday for the game on Saturday.
“I think he was trying to follow in the steps of Romario, who would also go out every night, but he didn’t have the same success.”
In 2002, Ronaldinho won the World Cup in South Korea and Japan – scoring an infamous free-kick past England in the quarter final – and shot to superstar status.
Manchester United were desperate to land the tricky attacker but Barcelona won the race and splashed out £21million to sign him the following year.
Ronaldinho won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and the Champions League during his five-year Nou Camp spell.
Consistent, stand-out performances also saw him bag three Fifa World Player of the Year awards between 2004-06..
And he even won a standing ovation at the Bernabeu after scoring two spectacular goals in a 3-0 El Clasico win in 2005.
Ronaldinho then chose AC Milan over Manchester again – this time City – in 2008 and went on to win Serie A.
Spells back in Brazil at Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro followed, before a shock move to Mexican club Queretaro in 2014, and a final return to his homeland with Fluminese in 2015.
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