In brief
Bojan Krkic cites leadership characteristics as one of the reasons he believes Ronaldinho is his best teammate, surpassing even Messi.
Ronaldinho made a lasting impression on Bojan with his abilities and teammates’ trust.
Despite being promising, Bojan’s career fell short of expectations after Barcelona, which was a result of criticism from the media.
Football players that have played alongside Lionel Messi in the contemporary period almost always declare him the greatest of all time. Ultimately, there is no more compelling argument for brilliance than firsthand observation. Messi’s career speaks louder than most arguments ever could, from his record eight Ballon d’Or victories to that desired World Cup in 2022, not to mention his incredible goal and assist total.
Naturally, a few more names, like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo, are frequently brought up in the never-ending debate about football’s greatest of all time. The shortlist is rarely updated, and responses frequently contain prejudice based on factors like nationality, personal loyalty, or the person one had the honor of standing next to.
When asked to pick his best teammate, Bojan Krkic, who played with Messi 109 times during their Barcelona days, has taken an unexpected stand. Bojan maintains the Argentine wasn’t the finest player he played with, even if he saw firsthand Messi’s greatness. He picked another person from the same star-studded dressing room instead.
Bojan Krkic Named Ronaldinho As His Best-Ever Teammate
He snubbed Lionel Messi in favour of the Brazilian, labelling him a “true leader”
After retiring from football in 2022, Krkic, who only received one cap for Spain, has gone back to his roots by working as a football coordinator at Barcelona’s renowned La Masia institute. His time off from playing has also allowed him to think back on a career in which he shared a dressing room with some of the greatest Barcelona players ever, such as Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Xavi.
Bojan was unafraid to stand out in such illustrious company, something that many would find difficult to achieve. Ronaldinho made the strongest effect, despite his recognition of Messi’s genius. When the ball was at his feet, Bojan remarked of the Brazilian legend, “He had it all,” and “the whole team trusted him.” The Mirror cited him as saying:
Ronaldinho was arguably the best player I ever played alongside. Given that Messi, who played at the highest level for years, shared the field with me, I am aware that it is challenging and nearly unfair to single anyone out. However, I think Ronaldinho had it all.
“He was a fantastic playmaker. The team had complete faith in him whenever he got the ball, whether it was during play or while he was getting ready to take a penalty. He was a true leader, indeed.
The Career Statistics of Ronaldinho
Games
720
Objectives
261
Helps
202
Honors
La Liga (2006, 2007), the Champions League (2006), the World Cup (2002), the Copa America (1999), and the Ballon d’Or (2005)
What Happened To Bojan Krkic
His career took a downward turn after leaving Barcelona in 2011
Ronaldinho is still remembered as one of the greatest football players of all time. Once predicted to follow in his footsteps at Barcelona, Bojan Krkic was destined for a similar level of fame, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. Before being moved to Roma in 2011, he made 163 appearances for the Catalan powerhouses and scored 12 goals in his first season.
From then on, Bojan never lived up to the hype, even with moments of genius. He was playing for Stoke City by 2014, which was very different from Camp Nou. There are a hundred Freddy Adus for every Lamine Yamal, and regrettably, Krkic became more like the latter.
The Career of Bojan Krkic in Sports
Years
Club
Games
2006–2007
Barcelona B
22
2007–2011
Barcelona
163
2011–2013
Roma
37
2012–2013
AC Milan (loan)
27
2013–2014
Loan for Ajax
32
2014–2019
City of Stoke
85
2017
Loan from Mainz
15.
2017–2018
Alaves (loan)
11.
2019–2020
Impact of Montreal
31
2021–2022
Kobe, Vissel
26
His skill was always apparent; according to a story by The Independent, he joined Barcelona’s youth team at the age of eight and went on to score over 900 goals. His senior debut at the age of 17 years and 19 days was expedited by his successful run, which also broke Lionel Messi’s record as the youngest player to play for Barcelona in La Liga. In the Champions League, he accomplished the same thing three days later.
However, expectations proved to be a burden. In subsequent interviews, Bojan acknowledged that his advancement was hindered by the heavy pressure and media attention. He played in the Championship during his five seasons with Stoke before finishing his career with stints with Vissel Kobe in Japan and Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer. At the age of 32, he decided to retire and go back to La Masia, the place where it all started, to mentor the upcoming generation and help new players steer clear of the mistakes he made.
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