Few moments from the 2002 World Cup are more iconic and memorable than Ronaldinho‘s audacious free kick goal for Brazil against England in the quarter-final. And few are more divisive; did he really mean it or was it just a fluke?

Brazil went on to win the 2002 tournament, beating Germany in the final, and that formidable group, featuring Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo, remain the last batch of Brazilians to lift the famous trophy. And, over two decades on, discussion continues to simmer among lovers of the game over whether ‘that Ronaldinho goal’ was intentional or not.

So, did Ronaldinho mean to score that day or was it simply a moment of outrageous good fortune? GIVEMESPORT takes a look back at one of the most talked-about moments in World Cup history.

Ronaldinho Goal vs England: What Happened?

Having comfortably beaten Denmark 3-0 in the Round of 16, England advanced to the quarter-final stage, where Brazil lay in wait. The South Americans were heavy favourites to win the tournament and had beaten Belgium in the previous round, but England took the lead in the 23rd minute courtesy of Michael Owen.

However, the game would ultimately revolve around Ronaldinho and it was the gifted playmaker’s slaloming run and pass that allowed Rivaldo to score an equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Then, the defining moment of the match arrived just a matter of minutes after the restart, when Ronaldinho was carelessly fouled 40-odd yards out, wide on the right of England’s goal.

Ronaldinho shrugged off the assault from the England midfielder and stood ominously over the ball as his compatriots flooded into the England box in anticipation of an inviting cross. He struck the ball hard with the inside of his right foot and it spun high into the area, momentarily wrong-footing Seaman before looping miraculously into the top left corner of the net.

Interestingly, it would not be Ronaldinho’s last contribution to the game, with the toothy Brazilian being sent off just seven minutes later following a testy tussle with Danny Mills.

WATCH: Ronaldinho’s Free Kick Goal vs England | All the Angles

Did Ronaldinho Mean To Lob David Seaman and Score?

REUTERS/Jim Bourg JB/GB/JP

England players who played that day were unanimous in their assessment that the goal was completely unintentional and fortuitous, with David Beckham calling it “a fluke” and Teddy Sheringham derisively describing it as “a mis-hit” in the immediate aftermath.

Danny Mills, meanwhile, argued that Ronaldinho’s apparent “sheepishness” when asked directly about it after the game by Rio Ferdinand was evidence that he had simply gotten lucky. “Rio [Ferdinand] asked Ronaldinho after the game if he meant to shoot and he just gave a shrug and grinned,” explained the disbelieving Mills.

However, Ronaldinho himself has always been adamant that he meant to score his free kick against Seaman, defiantly insisting that “there was nothing lucky about it” and noting that he had even discussed the move with Brazil captain Cafu beforehand, after the defender had noticed the England goalkeeper’s positioning.

“It was definitely a shot,” Ronaldinho said in an interview with FIFA.com. “It was Cafu who advised me beforehand that there was a space and that Seaman was standing in a very advanced position in the penalty area. It seemed only natural to have a go, and there was nothing lucky about it.”

He added:

While he disputes any suggestion that the goal was a mistake on his part, Ronaldinho does concede that there was a stroke of good fortune involved because the ball bent in his favour.

“What basically happened is that I hit my shot too hard and, as it travelled through the air, it swerved more and ended up looping over Seaman. There was nothing he could do about it and I suppose there was an element of luck involved,” acknowledged the Brazilian. “But, a goal is a goal!”

In the years after the fact, Ronaldinho repeatedly reiterated his stance, with Sven-Goran Eriksson – England’s manager for the game – outlining that he had asked the Brazilian on a number of different occasions whether he really meant it. “I met him many times after the World Cup,” said Eriksson. “And every time I ask him, ‘tell me the truth – did you want to score?’ and he says, ‘yes, of course!'”

Over two decades later, Seaman remains incredulous at Ronaldinho’s explanation and he is broadly backed up on the matter by his team-mates, though it remains a sore point for the ex goalkeeper.

“Not a chance [did Ronaldinho mean to score]. I was told straight after the game that he didn’t mean it,” Seaman said in 2026, speaking on the GBF podcast. “Gilberto Silva was playing for Brazil at the time and he was [later] my team-mate at Arsenal – he told me. It just didn’t matter because I was in a world of pain.”

On the same podcast, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes – who was the player who fouled Ronaldinho to concede the free kick in question – echoed Seaman’s view that it was nothing more than a blunder that worked out in their opponent’s favour.

One former England star who is convinced that it was a moment of intended Ronaldinho genius is Gary Lineker, who said in a 2022 BBC podcast: “I’ve seen Ronaldinho play a lot and I don’t think he’s capable of missing a free kick by that far, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

💬 Did Ronaldinho mean that goal? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Newcastle United have submitted an official offer to sign a Tottenham star in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

We could see a host of Tottenham players leave the club this summer, considering they are looking to bring in so many reinforcements, and Newcastle are one of the sides looking to take advantage.

The Magpies need plenty of additions themselves after such a disappointing season in the Premier League, which saw them finish in the bottom half and fail to qualify for Europe.

Tottenham are pushing to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, meaning the Magpies may need to find themselves a midfielder.

It will be interesting to discover whether Newcastle and Tottenham can figure out some kind of swap deal, but Spurs have rejected their initial bid.

Newcastle Make Offer for Tottenham Star

According to Romano, Newcastle have submitted an offer to sign Tottenham midfielder Archie Gray, and Spurs have already made their position clear.

No agreement has been reached with Tottenham, rejecting the bid, but the Magpies remain interested in securing his signature.

Gray, described as a future £100m player by Como scout Ben Mattinson, could find himself falling down the pecking order with Tottenham targeting midfielders this summer.

If Newcastle were willing to sanction a deal for Tonali to join Tottenham, it’ll be interesting to see if their failed attempt to sign Gray impacts their stance.

Gray Has Decision to Make This Summer

via Reuters

Gray has a big decision to make when it comes to his future in the summer transfer window, with Spurs pushing to sign multiple midfielders.

As previously mentioned, Tonali is a target for Tottenham, while they have also agreed a deal to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Gray has already found it difficult to nail down a starting role at Tottenham, and it is going to be even trickier when their new potential arrivals join the club.

As it stands, Tottenham don’t appear to be too keen on allowing Gray to leave, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was considering a departure in the near future.

When discussing the greatest tennis player of all time, Roger Federer is almost always mentioned among the leading contenders. The Swiss legend ruled the sport throughout much of the 2000s and 2010s, building unforgettable rivalries with stars such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and several other elite competitors.

One of the defining moments of Federer’s career came in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Nadal, a match lasting four hours and 48 minutes that is still widely regarded as one of the finest Grand Slam finals ever played.

Although Federer narrowly lost the epic five-set contest, he continued collecting major titles in the years that followed. By the time he retired, he had secured 20 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record eight Wimbledon crowns, highlighted by five consecutive victories at the All England Club.

With achievements spanning nearly every milestone in the sport, Federer is well qualified to weigh in on the tennis GOAT debate. During a discussion about the athletes who influenced and impressed him throughout his career, he singled out one player above everyone else, describing them as the greatest tennis player in history.

Roger Federer’s Pick For Tennis GOAT

Since stepping away from professional tennis, Federer has remained relatively reserved in public appearances. Throughout his playing career, he was equally respected for his sportsmanship, graceful attitude in defeat, and composed personality, qualities that distinguished him from many of his biggest rivals.

Despite sharing the court with champions such as Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray, Federer did not select any of them as his all-time greatest player. Nor did he place himself at the top of the list despite his remarkable resume.

Instead, he gave that distinction to Serena Williams, one of the most accomplished athletes the sport has ever produced.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Federer explained: “It’s been fascinating to watch. She had a totally different upbringing—I came up through Switzerland with the federation. She did it with her dad and her sister. It’s an amazing story unto itself—and then she became one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tennis player of all time.”

Federer later clarified that he was referring to Williams as one of the greatest players in tennis history overall, not simply among women. At the same time, he acknowledged that comparing players from different eras is never straightforward.

Serena Williams’ Glittering Tennis Career

Serena Williams is widely recognised as one of the finest players ever to compete in tennis.

Williams captured her first Grand Slam title at just 18 years old by winning the 1999 US Open. A few years later, she produced one of the sport’s most dominant stretches, claiming four consecutive major championships from the 2002 French Open through the 2003 Australian Open. During that extraordinary run, she defeated her sister Venus Williams in each Grand Slam final.

Although injuries and fluctuating form interrupted her dominance for a period, Williams re-established herself at the top of the game beginning with her Wimbledon victory in 2012. That season also included Olympic gold before she embarked on another remarkable spell, winning eight of the following 13 Grand Slam tournaments. Her final major triumph came at the 2017 Australian Open, where she secured her 23rd Grand Slam singles title and surpassed Steffi Graf’s Open Era record.

One of Williams’ defining qualities was her exceptional longevity, with an 18-year span separating her first and final Grand Slam victories. Competing successfully across multiple generations of players further strengthened her legacy, something Federer also highlighted when reflecting on both of their careers.