A Sunday league football team unveiled the ultimate ringer this weekend – legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo.
The forward – considered by many to be the greatest to ever play the game – laced up his boots and turned out for Phoenix FC, bottom of the NWL Division 8 in Essex.
Their beleaguered line-up was boosted by the ex-pro, now 47, who came on as a super-sub with his side 4-0 down.
The World Cup winner hung up his boots 13 years ago but pulled them back on to turn out for ‘one of the worst teams in England’, after they won a social media competition run by Paddy Power.
Wearing number 17, R9 showed some neat touches at first, taking kick-off with a piece of Brazilian flair – a rabona pass.
Unfortunately, even footballing royalty couldn’t turn his team’s fortunes around.
After being caught offside – and on his phone – the superstar was promptly subbed back off by his temporary manager.
Phoenix FC manager, Brian Edwards, said: “The lads couldn’t believe it when Ronaldo showed up – I hadn’t registered him so used the name ‘Dave Walsh’ and put him on the bench.
“Sadly, he was anything but a Super Sub.
“He was late by the time he got changed and we were already well behind by the time I could put him on, but it’s definitely a moment I’ll remember forever.
“The rest of his performance? Less memorable.”
Ronaldo’s antics in Essex were all part of a scripted social media video [https://x.com/paddypower/status/1767144271444955370?s=20] released across Paddy Power’s channels to launch new betting feature Super Sub, which transfers bets when a player is subbed off – which even saw a fan have a Ronaldo hair cut of 1998 for the occasion.
A spokesman for the betting firm said: “They say form is temporary but, having seen him in the flesh, Ronaldo’s post-retirement form does now seem pretty permanent. It happens to us all, R9.”
