Milan 0-1 Barcelona April 18, 2006
The former Sampdoria coach Vujadin Boškov once said that world-class players “see highways where others see footpaths.” And so it was that Ronaldinho left Rino Gattuso with road rage in the first leg of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final against Milan in 2006.
It was the 57th minute and like a bull catching sight of a red piece of cloth, the midfielder charged at his antagonist, columns of steam billowing out of his nostrils.
With a Verónica, a turn reminiscent of a matador from a Hemingway novel, Ronaldinho pivoted, so slow and so controlled, before chipping a pass on to the green of the penalty area between Kakha Kaladze and Alessandro Nesta.
The ball pitched up perfectly for the onrushing Ludovic Giuly to flash on the half volley past Nelson Dida and secure Barcelona’s first win over Milan at San Siro since 1959.
When the club lifted the European Cup in Paris for only the second time in their history a month later, Pep Guardiola said: “Johan Cruyff created the Sistine Chapel, Frank Rijkaard restored it.” Well, if that’s the case then Ronaldinho’s assist in Milan deserves to be likened to God stretching out his right arm to spark life into Adam in Michelangelo’s masterpiece.
