Why Ronaldinho missed Deco's star-studded testimonial match

Ronaldinho missed Deco’s testimonial match in Lisbon.

One of Barcelona’s biggest superstars of all time, Ronaldinho was one of the players who went missing during his former Barcelona team-mate Deco’s star-studded testimonial which included the likes of Leo Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Mark van Bommel and Ricardo Carvalho.

At first, rumours started surfacing on social media with even Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo reporting that it was Ronaldinho’s club Atletico Mineiro who had denied the player permission to take part in the testimonial.

Ronaldinho in the end won't take part in 'Porto 2004 vs Barcelona 2006' because he didn't get permission of his club Atletico Mineiro. [md]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) July 25, 2014

Later, it was reported that the Brazilian star had actually missed his flight from Brazil which was supposed to take him to Lisbon after the club had given him the release to skip three training sessions, and a match on Sunday.

Ronaldinho, however, expressed his congratulations to his former teammate through Twitter later.

Um dos mais fantásticos jogadores com quem joguei e fui campeão! Parabéns pela sua carreira vitoriosa, você merece!!! pic.twitter.com/fwZJkcM0AI

— Ronaldinho Gaúcho (@10Ronaldinho) July 25, 2014

(Translation: “One of the most fantastic players I played with. Congratulations for your victorious career, you deserve it.”)

More than 50,000 people gathered in the Do Dragao Stadium in Porto to bid farewell to the former Barcelona and Chelsea player in a match between the sides with which he had won the UEFA Champions League (2004 and 2006). Other stars who were due to take part initially but couldn’t make it were Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Jose Mourinho and Carles Puyol.

The match ended in a 4-4 draw with Deco securing a marvelous brace en route. Read the full report, and watch the match highlights here.