BRA–ARG (Match 16), Anheuser Busch Man of the Match: Ronaldinho (BRA)

29 June 2005
by FIFAworldcup.com

Great players respond to the biggest stages and that was vividly expressed in the performance of Ronaldinho who not only scored one of Brazil's four goals but ran the game with some wonderful artistry to earn the FIFA Technical Study Group's nomination as Anheuser Busch Man of the Match.

TSG member Andy Roxburgh said it was a difficult decision in one sense because there were so many candidates wearing yellow who could have picked up the award. But it was easy in another sense, so creative and influential was the Barcelona playmaker.

"Ronaldinho was literally the orchestrator of a magnificent team display," Roxburgh explained. "In a team of special players he stood out. He entertained, he ran the show, he made the difference. He ticked all the boxes – it was a wonderful performance of creative, imaginative football. In attack he was omnipresent and he came up with so many telling passes.

"On another day any number of candidates could have been there. Adriano was fantastic once again as was Kaka. Robinho did some great things. There are umpteen players in the Brazilian team who could be called special tonight but one of them, Ronaldinho, was extra, extra special."