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A well-respected professional in his own country, Ricardinho has remained something of an unknown quantity as far as the international game is concerned. The elegant left-footed midfielder has had two spells in Europe, both of them uninspired, and although he has 21 international caps to his name, these have been spread over a period of almost ten years, and only now is he considered a regular squad member. Yet there still remains a question mark over his selection at all, given that the likes of former Palmeiras creator Alex and mercurial winger Denílson have both been left out.
That is not to say that Ricardinho lacks quality. Three Brasileiro titles, the Copa do Brasil and the Club World Championship, often as captain, indicate his pedigree. An able free-kick taker and an excellent leader on the field, he has played for some of Brazil’s best sides in recent years and it is no surprise that the likes of Luizão, Luís Fabiano and Robinho have all benefited from his subtle passing skills. So why has this graceful player failed so spectacularly on the old continent?
One theory is that his game is just too slow. Ricardinho often wants longer on the ball than quick attacks and counterattacks will allow, and whereas in Brazil this is not such a problem, in Europe midfielders have to make their decisions far more quickly and simply cannot be afforded the time he needs. His physical condition is also in question. He has next to no pace, and during his time in England with Middlesbrough he allegedly wasn’t considered fit enough even to make the substitute’s bench.
He was relatively lucky to make the national team for the 2002 World Cup, being called up as a late replacement for the injured Émerson. At the time he was struggling for form with São Paulo, and in the end only saw small amounts of action as a substitute. However Parreira likes his teams to keep possession of the ball, and this is something Ricardinho excels at. There is also a lack of left-footed players in the squad, so having someone of his experience available is a bonus.
The reason for his call-up may be that Parreira is looking for someone to back up Zé Roberto, capable of keeping things ticking over from a deeper position in midfield without the necessity to dash forward – a job more than adequately fulfilled by Kaká and Ronaldinho. He may make a particularly irritating figure on the pitch, brought on as a sub to pass the ball around when Brazil are ahead late in the game. Certainly, being able to call upon someone of Ricardinho’s presence and leadership is a luxury few countries can afford.
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Bio written by: Chris Marks
Factfile compiled by: Mark Lowdon
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