When Ronaldinho joined Barcelona from Paris St Germain in 2003 after a much-publicised fall-out with their coach Luis Fernandez he was hailed as a saviour.
Joining a club trying to extricate itself from a crisis caused by four years of mismanagement, political in-fighting, and underachievement, he was greeted by 30,000 fans on the day of his presentation.
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The burden of expectation was immense and yet he made light of the responsibility and restored the club's shattered morale.
The Brazilian's vision, passing skills and dazzling party tricks, coupled with his smiling, laid-back attitude to life and childlike enthusiasm were the perfect antidote to the gloom that had descended on the Nou Camp.
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