Ronaldinho MLS Bound?

For the past 16 years, the soccer world has been lit up by Ronaldinho. The man has been a highlight reel throughout his career and has dazzled everyone with his skill and flair. He has won just about every trophy a professional soccer player can only dream of. At the age of 34, the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, is well past his prime. Yet, he has proved that he can still make his mark in the game by leading Atletico Mineiro to a Copa Libertadores Title in 2013. Despite this, he is currently a free agent and doesn't seem to have too many potential suitors. Recently, he’s been linked with an MLS move. I understand that the MLS has been trying to shed its image of being a league where players come to, as Ashley Cole put it, “relax on the beach,” but this move makes sense on every front.

Ronaldinho is one of the most recognizable players for fans and nonfans alike. This may be the best opportunity for the MLS to obtain a marquee name to help expand its market. For Ronaldinho? This may be his last chance to cash in big on all of his previous career accolades as his playing days are definitely limited. A well-documented case of partying too much may have lowered his potential ceiling. Perhaps he could’ve gone down as one of the all-time greats had he prioritized his soccer career. That being said, while he’s certainly not in the best shape of his life, he is still capable of producing magical moments on the field. As an entertainer, you can’t do much better than Ronaldinho, even at the age of 34.

Just take a look at his highlights from the year 2013:

Riding off of the World Cup high in the country, this seems like the perfect time to capitalize on his services. A record attendance at the match between Manchester United and Real Madrid last weekend showed that we still care about soccer even if the USMNT isn’t involved. With Kaka already committed to joining the new club Orlando City, David Villa and Lampard joining NYC FC, throwing Ronaldinho into the mix as another designated player brings in another superstar to sell tickets. With the average MLS ticket price (I know it’s for the supporters section, but ticket values aren’t all that different individually) around $17, I will happily go to a game to watch these players.