Barcelona and Brazil legend and Ronaldino de Assis Moreira, popularly known as Ronaldinho Gaucho, is among 30 first football legends announced to grace the highly anticipated inaugural Veterans Club World Championship (VCWC) that will take place in Kigali. The 2002 World Cup winner will join over 150 legends who will convene in Kigali for the inaugural edition of the tournament due from May 10-20, 2024. In an official video released via the VCWC platforms, Ronaldinho confirmed his participation at the tournament in Rwanda. I will be in Rwanda for the Veterans Club World Cup, he stated. The VCWC is designed for former players who have retired from football. Around 150 ex-players are expected in Rwanda for the ten-day event. ALSO READ: Gatete among team captains to headline 2024 veteran Clubs World Cup Ronaldinho, who enjoyed a fruitful five-year spell with Barcelona where he scored 70 goals in 145 games, is one of the most decorated footballers in the world. He has won several trophies at club and national team levels including the 2002 World Cup, Copa America and U17 World Cup with Brazil, UEFA Champions League and Spanish La Liga with Barcelona and Italian Serie A with AC Milan among many honours. He spent 14 years in the Brazilian senior national team (1999-2013)scoring 33 goals in 97 games. Also, on the list announced during the Legends in Rwanda player presentation event held Thursday, November 30, includes Finland-based Hassan Karera, a former Rwandan player who featured for APR, Mukura and AS Kigali. Full list of 30 football legends confirmed for VCWC Ronaldinho, Maicon Douglas, Myamoto, Andrew Cole, Patrice Evra, Emmanuel Eboué, Momahed Mwameja, Juma Mossi, Jomo Sono and Hassan Karera, Laura Georges, Louis Saha, Amanda Dlamini, Bacary Sagna, Gaizka Mendieta, Miguela Pauleta, Robert Pirès, José Edmílson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Edgar Davids, Roger Milla, Kalusha Bwalya, Anthony Baffoe, Jimmy Gate, Sonny Anderson, Patrick Mboma, Maxwell Cabelino and Wael Gomaa. Organisers will announce 100 more legends for the tournament in February 2024 while the final list will be announced in early May.
