Ronaldinho leads exhibition match in Venezuela's largest neighborhood

Football icon Ronaldinho Gaúcho headlined an exhibition match in Petare, Venezuela's most populous neighborhood, drawing hundreds of children and adolescents to the event. This appearance was part of the Liga Monumental, a tournament that brings together retired global football stars.

This marks Ronaldinho's second participation in the Liga Monumental, which held its inaugural edition in 2024 with other notable players like Clarence Seedorf and Carlos 'El Pibe' Valderrama. For this edition, the tournament organizers brought the championship, played with nine players per side, to Mesuca, a sector within Petare in eastern Caracas. A mural depicting the Brazilian forward's face was painted in the area.

Ronaldinho, a former Barcelona player, played for the CLX team against Patacones, captained by former Venezuelan national team goalkeeper Renny Vega. The match saw Ronaldinho score a goal in the second half, contributing to the Liga Monumental's objective of connecting with the community through football. The event also included a preliminary match featuring local children.

The Liga Monumental features unique rules, including no offside and a minute per period where goals count for double. The tournament is played in three periods, with the team winning two periods declared the winner. Tie-breakers can be decided by goal average or a penalty shootout between captains. Additionally, for every five fouls committed by a team, the opposing team can add a player to their roster for the remainder of the competition, which concludes on June 30.