Ronaldinho on how to replace Lionel Messi | OneFootball

Whenever it is time for a great player to step down, fans are worried about how they will be replaced.

Unfortunately for Barcelona, Lionel Messi is now 30 and that time will come sooner rather than later.

Once upon a time there may have been similar worries surrounding Brazil legend Ronaldinho, but Messi came along at just the right time.

Speaking about the Argentine, Ronaldinho is convinced the club won’t be so lucky.

“We just have to cross our fingers and hope that someone comes along with half of his ability,” he told Yahoo. “That would already be enough.”

Just this weekend, Messi equalled Ronaldinho’s record for most free-kicks in a LaLiga season.

The Brazilian has always admitted he knew Messi would replace him as soon as he saw him in training as a teenager and that instant awe hasn’t worn off yet.

“I will never get tired of eulogising about Leo. He’s not just a great player; he’s a great person, a great human being. That’s the kind of thing we must never tire of praising.

“And when he gets on that field… well, then we could end up speaking for a whole year about Messi. He evolves with every game. Leo is a living legend and we must treat him with so much respect.”