Ronaldinho from hero to zero at Nou Camp

By Simon Baskett

MADRID (Reuters) - Two seasons ago Ronaldinho was the undisputed king of world football, enjoying a hero-like status at Barcelona having steered the club to back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League.

In 18 months, the Brazilian has suffered a fall from grace and is deemed surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp.

A dilettante attitude to training, a serious loss of form, an apparent weight problem and the rise of a new generation of hungry youngsters account for the change in attitude towards a player who was one of the most prized possessions in the game.

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 this presentation.

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.

WORLD PLAYER