The World Cup, played in June and July in Germany, was the main event of soccer's four-year cycle. Pass the ball, or the buck? Who on earth told this man, this finisher of invaluable goals, that he was restricted to the task of provider? Ronaldinho made the barely credible excuse that it was not his role to score rather he was there to pass the ball to the designated strikers. When it mattered most, Brazil lost its rhythm, its beauty, its purpose - and lost possession of the World Cup. At the beginning and the end of 2006 nobody could touch him for class and creativity, but he had a flat summer, coinciding with the World Cup, that destroyed his and Brazil's hopes of living up to the hype. However, Ronaldinho has probably lost the Player of the Year title he held last year. He plays to the gallery, but he also plays for the team, and the tricks are often most effective when competition becomes as tense and taut as a violin string. No other player performs with such a smile on his face, and none communicates such childlike joy in inventing his own special way of movement and magic.
So the fact that Ronaldinho has recently scored for Barcelona two of the most artful and artistic goals that we will ever see will have come too late to influence the award. The poll among the national team coaches and captains closed months ago. One of three men - Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho Gaucho, and Zinédine Zidane - will be pronounced this year's outstanding individual in a team game that is played in every country where there is life and movement. Next Monday the global glitterati of soccer will meet in Zurich at the FIFA World Player Gala 2006.