It took one flash of genius to remind worried fans why they love Ronaldinho, writes Sid Lowe
For a man so seemingly at ease with the ball, for so long last night, Ronaldinho's most telling contribution looked like it would be running away from it - his diversion allowing Deco to race at the heart of the Chelsea defence for the opening goal - but then a wonderful piece of skill set Eidur Gudjohnsen up for the second, 12 minutes into the second half.
In the first half, this was the Ronaldinho who has Barca fans worried, not the one they have so warmed to over the past three years. But then, in a flash, a moment's genius, he reminded them of why they fell in love with him in the first place. A superb flick took him away from Khalid Boulahrouz, lifting the ball over him and racing into the penalty area. A quick look and he played in a pinpoint pass with the outside of his foot, curling away from the defence and into the path of Gudjohnsen.
This was more like it. Soon after, he nearly repeated the feat, chesting down to send the Icelandic striker through with a delightful lobbed pass.
This time the shot flew over but Ronaldinho was back. His team-mates had insisted that he would come good when it really mattered and so he did, with the kind of close control and technical ability that defines him.
This is the footballer who admits to sleeping with his football as a kid. The little boy who would play all night with only his dog, Bombom, for company, long after his friends had gone home.
It is the man who, when asked if he had a girlfriend replied as coyly as he did untruthfully: "The ball." He is an athlete, built like a sprinter, famous for his smile but it is his skill that defines him - the ridiculous, rubber-ankled dexterity, the step-overs, nutmegs, bicycle kicks, lobs, back-heels and chips. Then there is the cow's tail, as the Spanish call it, where he spins 360 degrees with the ball on his toe, pulling it across the turf beyond his man.
Brazil legend Roberto Tostao may have insisted that "Ronaldinho has the dribbling skills of Rivelinho, the vision of Gerson, the spirit and happiness of Garrincha, the pace and power of Jairzinho and Ronaldo, the technical ability of Zico and the creativity of Romario", but there was little evidence of that until he pounced so brilliantly.
In a disappointing first half, he delivered just one incisive pass, a clever threaded ball for Xavi Hernandez to run onto, only for his shot to be tipped round the post by Hilario.
That pass aside, Ronaldinho did virtually nothing, his best moment coming when he left the stage to Deco in the second minute. The Portuguese international robbed the ball and raced forward. Ronaldinho peeled wide, out of the way, leaving the game to go on without him. It was his finest contribution - Deco ran into the gap left as Boulahrouz followed Ronaldinho and finished brilliantly.
If that augured well, Ronaldinho could not build on it. Even his deliveries from set plays were disappointing. One free-kick swung only into the wall. When Ronaldinho complained to the referee of a handball, it was born more of frustration than belief in winning a penalty. Redemption would, however, come. And it was classic Ronaldinho.
Chelsea may have equalised in the end but that moment was man and ball reunited at last.
Guardian Service
