Ronaldinho helped Brazil to one World Cup title, was twice voted best player on the planet and is still good enough to play for Italian powerhouse AC Milan.
Yet the striker with dazzling footwork was absent when Brazil coach Dunga announced his 23-man roster for next month's World Cup. The only way Ronaldinho will get to South Africa is if someone gets hurt.
He won't be the only big name missing from the World Cup, either. Whether because of injury, retirement, failure to qualify or a flat-out snub, here are six more who will be on the sidelines. Among the others:
-Midfielder Michael Ballack: Germany's captain tore ligaments in his right ankle in the FA Cup final, club team Chelsea's final game of the year. It's a big blow for Germany and the 33-year-old Ballack, who was likely looking at his last chance to win the World Cup after reaching the 2002 final and the 2006 semifinals.
-Midfielder David Beckham: Though his days as a starter are long gone, the most famous name in the game had hopes of becoming England's first player to appear in four World Cups. No chance of that after Beckham ruptured his Achilles' tendon in March. Beckham won't miss out on South Africa completely, however. There's talk he might serve as an assistant captain for England, and there will be plenty of photo ops of him schmoozing with FIFA executives in support of England's bid for the 2018 World Cup.
-Striker Emmanuel Adebayor: Togo failed to qualify for the first World Cup in Africa, and the Manchester City striker retired from international play this spring, traumatized by the deadly attack on his team at the African Cup of Nations.
-Forward Francesco Totti: Hobbled by injuries in recent years, Totti retired from international play after Italy won the World Cup in 2006. He had hinted that he might come out of retirement for South Africa.
-Forward Charlie Davies: The budding U.S. star ran out of time to recover from the devastating car accident last fall that left him with a broken and dislocated left elbow, three broken bones in his right leg, a ruptured bladder and bleeding on the brain.
-Ireland: Blame Thierry Henry's handball for this one.
