Summary
Bojan Krkic considers Ronaldinho his greatest teammate over Messi, citing leadership qualities as one of the reasons.
Ronaldinho, with his skills and trust from teammates, left a lasting impression on Bojan.
Bojan's career, while promising, did not fulfill expectations post-Barcelona, reflecting on media pressure.
In the modern era, footballers who've shared the pitch with Lionel Messi rarely hesitate to crown him the greatest of all time. After all, there’s no stronger case for greatness than witnessing it up close. From his record eight Ballon d’Or titles to that long-coveted World Cup in 2022 - not to mention his staggering goals and assists tally - Messi’s resume speaks louder than most debates ever could.
Of course, the eternal conversation around football’s GOAT usually revolves around a few more names, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Pele. The shortlist rarely changes, and answers often come with a side of bias - shaped by nationality, personal allegiance, or who someone had the privilege of lining up beside.
But Bojan Krkic, who played alongside Messi 109 times during their Barcelona days, has taken a surprising stance when asked to name his greatest teammate. Despite witnessing Messi’s magic first-hand, Bojan insists the Argentine wasn’t the best he played with. Instead, he chose someone else from the same star-studded dressing room.
Bojan Krkic Named Ronaldinho As His Best-Ever Teammate
He snubbed Lionel Messi in favour of the Brazilian, labelling him a "true leader"
Ronaldinho celebrates
Since retiring from football in 2022, Krkic - who earned just one cap for Spain - has returned to his roots, taking up a role as football coordinator at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. His post-playing days have also given him time to reflect on a career that saw him share a dressing room with some of the greatest to ever wear the Barcelona shirt, including Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta.
While many would struggle to pick a standout among such legendary company, Bojan had no hesitation. Though he acknowledged Messi’s brilliance, it was Ronaldinho who left the biggest impression. “He had it all,” Bojan said of the Brazilian icon, adding that “the whole team trusted him” whenever the ball was at his feet. As quoted by The Mirror, he said:
"The best player I played with was probably Ronaldinho. I know it’s difficult, and almost unfair, to single out anyone, given that I shared the pitch with Messi, who played at the highest level for years. However, Ronaldinho, in my opinion, had it all.
"He was an incredible playmaker. Whenever he had the ball - whether during the game or when he was preparing to take a penalty – the whole team trusted him. He really was a true leader."
Ronaldinho's Career Statistics
Games
Goals
Assists
Honours
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What Happened To Bojan Krkic
His career took a downward turn after leaving Barcelona in 2011
Bojan Krkic (L) of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's opening goal with his teammate Lionel Messi of Barcelona
Ronaldinho remains etched in history as one of football’s all-time greats. Bojan Krkic, once tipped to follow in his footsteps at Barcelona, seemed destined for similar stardom - but the script didn’t quite go to plan. He burst onto the scene with 12 goals in his debut season and racked up 163 appearances for the Catalan giants before being sold to Roma in 2011.
Despite flashes of brilliance, Bojan never fully delivered on the hype from there on in. By 2014, he was turning out for Stoke City - a far cry from the Camp Nou. For every Lamine Yamal, there are a hundred Freddy Adus, and sadly, Krkic fell closer to the latter.
Bojan Krkic's Playing Career
Years
2006-2007
2007-2011
2011-2013
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2019
2017
2017-2018
2019-2020
2021-2022
His talent was never in doubt: a report from The Independent claimed he scored over 900 goals in Barcelona’s youth ranks after joining at just eight years old. That prolific run fast-tracked his senior debut at 17 years and 19 days, breaking Lionel Messi’s record as the youngest player to appear in La Liga for Barca. Just three days later, he repeated the feat in the Champions League.
But the weight of expectation proved heavy. In later interviews, Bojan admitted the intense pressure and media scrutiny stifled his progress. He spent five seasons with Stoke, even playing in the Championship, before winding down his career with spells at Montreal Impact in MLS and Vissel Kobe in Japan. He retired at 32, choosing to return to where it all began - La Masia - this time to guide the next generation and help young players avoid the pitfalls he once faced.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 05/06/2025)