Ronaldinho was just one of dozens of stars to line up for the game in Qatar
He scored Barca's second goal of the game with fine free kick from 20 yards
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By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 18:58 EST, 28 November 2024 | Updated: 19:03 EST, 28 November 2024
Footballing icon Ronaldinho rolled back the years with a sensational free kick for a Barcelona legends team against Real Madrid icons.
In a match dubbed the Legends of El Clasico, dozens of heroes who featured for both sides throughout their careers lined up in Qatar for a legends match that Barcelona ended up winning on penalties.
Over 31,000 fans were in attendance on Thursday to see Juan Pablo Sorin open the scoring on eight minutes after good work from Ludovic Giuly.
It was then Ronaldinho's time. Famed for his flair, skills and dead ball efforts that made his career so successful, the now-44-year-old stepped up to take a free kick from around 20 yards out.
He curled his effort over the wall and into the top corner of the goal on 16 minutes to make it 2-0, scoring from the effort as he did on 66 occasions throughout his professional career.
Madrid goalkeeper Francisco Buyo, 66, could only watch on and was rooted to the spot as the ball sailed into the top corner before the Brazilian was mobbed by his team-mates.
Ronaldinho rolled back the years with a sensational free kick in a legends match between Barcelona and Real Madrid
He stepped up to take the kick from around 20 yards having scored 66 during his career
He curled the ball into the back of the net and past Madrid stopper Francisco Buyo, 66
Ronaldinho was among those to line up on the Barca side, while Luis Figo (left) featured for Madrid
Barca won the game on penalties having thrown away an early two-goal lead in normal time
Those team-mates included the likes of Eric Abidal, Rivaldo, and David Villa. For Real Madrid, stars such as Luis Figo, Julio Baptista and Clarence Seedorf featured.
It had at one point looked as though it would be a rout in favour of Barcelona, who led 2-0 early on when Ronaldinho found the back of the net.
But they failed to score again in the game, with Madrid halving the deficit through Figo, who also played for Barca in his career, just before the hour mark.
Edwin Congo then scored four minutes later, and 2-2 was how the game ended, with a penalty shootout taking place to decide the winners.
In the shootout, Frank de Boer missed for Barca, but the Catalan side's goalkeeper, Jesus Angoy, saved from both Congo and Jose Amavisca to earn victory.
In total, Ronaldinho played 207 games for Barcelona, joining in 2003 from Paris Saint-Germain and leaving in 2008 for AC Milan.
He scored 94 goals in that time, picking up a further 71 assists. He also played 97 times for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 2002.