THE BLOG FROM BRAZIL: No World Cup party for Ronaldinho, two Arsenal flops shine and some own goal hilarity



The World Cup is just 79 days away and excitement is building. Each week our man in Brazil, Joe Callaghan, brings us the latest news and views from South America and provides a flavour of exactly how the World Cup in Brazil is shaping up.

It's probably one of the safest bets in sport to assume he celebrated in style. That's something that Ronaldinho has never lost - the ability to throw a damn good party.

It was his 34th birthday on Friday. And we trust that the man who courted controversy in the Brazilian off-season when an image of him standing in front of a harem of bikini-clad girls went viral, marked the occasion like only he knows how.

But images of him partying it up three months out from a World Cup on home soil that could have been the crowning moment for one of the game's magicians don't make for a happy picture. This could have and should have been his time.

Party: Former Brazil star Ronaldinho parties with some friends in the only way that he knows how

On form: Many had hoped that Ronaldinho would make Brazil's squad for the World Cup this summer

Is 34 too old for a World Cup in the modern game? It's probably worth asking three other 34-year-olds who will travel to Brazil with their country's hopes on their backs: Andrea Pirlo, Xavi and Steven Gerrard.

In those outrageous, breath-stealing years at Barcelona, Ronaldinho never relied on pace anyway. No one with his skill set could possibly rely on any one factor. The body and those feet would be more than able to light up the summer. It's the mind and the heart that are the problem.

There was to be no 34th birthday present forthcoming from the brains trust behind the Brazilian national team though. No gift-wrapped olive branch or second or third chance.



In fact, Luis Felipe Scolari's assistant Carlos Alberto Parreira pooped the party by picking this weekend as the opportune time to confirm that Ronaldinho will definitely not be part of their drive for glory.



He 'lacked dedication and consistency' in his national team career, said Parreira, unlikely to be invited to the 35th shindig you'd have to imagine.

No thanks: Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that Ronaldinho is not required this summer

Distracted: Ronaldinho's off-field activities have counted against him A harsh judgement? For some, perhaps. But from this vantage, no. The confirmation that his international career is over leaves one of the most gifted players of all time, a man who put more beauty into the beautiful game than most, staring back at some damn ugly numbers. Ronaldinho played in his last World Cup in Germany as a 26-year-old. His final total on the biggest stage reads 10 games, two goals, the last of which was that free-kick that sailed over David Seaman's head in 2002. The weekend after a riveting Clasico, was Ronaldinho ever the same after he left Barcelona? Not even close. His disinterest at AC Milan in two-and-a-half seasons couldn't have been clearer. There have been flashes back home - the unforgettable duel with Neymar when the elder genius put the upstart in his place and Flamengo beat Santos 5-4 on the back of his hat-trick.

Leading Atletico Mineiro to the Copa Libertadores was no small feat either. But it's not been the same, not close. It is in his Brazil career that things couldn't be more stark. Consider this, Ronaldinho never scored another competitive international goal after leaving Barcelona. He only played another four competitive games - in six years. So he'll be free to party it up with the rest of the world this summer. The only problem is the rest of the world would prefer to see him partying on the pitch. But it's not be. Ronaldinho...all out for 34.

The two faces of the World Cup in Brazil



Changed times in shadows of the great innovator You wonder what the great man would have made of the scene. Brazil lost its first ever World Cup-winning captain, Hilderaldo Bellini, last week.



While it might not be a name that immediately registers across the world like Pele, Socrates, Zico or Ronaldo, perhaps it should.



As leader of one of the most innovative sides in football, Bellini is also credited with being the first sporting captain to hold a trophy over his head, when he raised Jules Rimet aloft in Sweden in 1958.

Legacy: Hilderaldo Bellini (left) was the first Brazilian captain to lift the World Cup for his country, in 1958

He is also the only man cast in bronze outside the Maracanã. A brief jaunt out to see his statue yesterday morning threw up a truly bizarre scene.



While on one side of him Japanese tourists giggled as they had their photo taken with a mascot whose heart really wasn't in it, on the other member of the Black Bloc, the more anarchist element among the country's anti-World Cup protesters, was being interviewed for a TV documentary in full camouflage.



Both faces of the World Cup in one fitting spot. A penny for the thoughts of the sadly departed Bellini.

Good week: Arsene's Old Boys

Last week may have marked the grand occasion of their old boss racking up 1000 games in charge of Arsenal.



Yet Julio Baptista and Andre Santos found their names attached with the celebrations only when it came to lists of the worst XI of Arsene Wenger's reign.



But while Wenger and Co imploded at Stamford Bridge, the Brazilian old boys both had reason to smile.



Full-back Santos picked up a winner's medal along with his Flamengo teammates at the Maracanã on Sunday after winning the regular season of the Rio state league. Baptista, meanwhile, rattled in this fine goal for Cruzeiro against Defensor in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday night.



Bad week: This IZ how it's not done

Who knew Wayne Hatswell had a Brazilian cousin? England's most infamous own-goal scorer has some competition at the summit of self-inflicted sporting wounds after this stunning effort from Izaldo on Saturday.

Having got away with a wild slice that cannoned back off the bar, the bold Izaldo went back for second helpings. It helped his Nautico side on their way to a 5-3 defeat to Santa Cruz at the World Cup Arena Pernambuco in Recife.





Remember me: Gabriel Heinze (Man United and Argentina)

Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United and Argentina) It's one of those head-scratching statistics but the indomitable defender made just 52 Premier League appearances in three admittedly injury-interrupted years in England.



It just seemed like he was around a lot more frequently than that such was his penchant for hurtling into challenges, haranguing referees and popping up with a vital goal or two. A league winner in England, Spain (Real Madrid) and France (Marseille), Heinze won 72 caps for his country and played in two World Cups.



Now back home with Newell's Old Boys (somewhat appropriate that), he announced this week that he will hang up his boots in May.

Calling it quits: Former Man Utd defender Gabriel Heinze (left), now of Newell's Old Boys, is retiring this summer

Quote of the week

'I’m from a city called Three Hearts. So I am the man of three hearts.' - Pele, when asked about his stamina after another PR appearance in Rio recently, this one for Swiss watchmakers Hublot.

Bloomberg estimated this week that brand Pele will haul in almost US$25million in endorsements on the back of the World Cup.



Say it loud: Pele has been busy meeting his contractual PR obligations for sponsors ahead of the World Cup

Traveller's tip: Play for extra time



Brazilian traffic bends to no man. When even Noah himself can't conjure a miracle to escape the gridlock, you know you're in trouble.



Russell Crowe was in Rio this week for the premier of his biblical blockbuster and got a first-hand look at the stagnant tributaries that cut through the city.



'2 hours 20 minutes from Ipanema to Rio Airport!' Crowe tweeted.



The journey is just over 20 kilometres. Avoid the tears, embrace the gridlock and give yourselves plenty of time this summer.

Amazon forecast: How's the weather up in Manaus?