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A sudden drop in form
Xavi has shared his thoughts on the sudden decline of his former Barca team-mate Ronaldinho. The Brazilian icon suffered a noticeable drop in his performance levels shortly after winning the Ballon d'Or in 2005.
While many fans and pundits have long blamed the forward's love for late-night partying, Xavi believes there was a different catalyst. The Spaniard feels that Ronaldinho simply lost his competitive edge.
Having secured both domestic and European glory in Catalonia, the attacker struggled to maintain his motivation. The former midfielder believes this is a psychological trap many elite athletes eventually fall into.
Mindset over late nights
Speaking in an interview with Prakhar Gupta, Xavi explained that Ronaldinho felt he had already completed club football. Once the major individual and team trophies were secured, his daily drive began to fade.
"Well, I think it was a mentality issue," Xavi noted. "Ronaldinho won absolutely everything: LaLiga and the Champions League with Barca, and the Ballon d'Or. And then, he probably thought, alright, I've done it all."
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Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
DirecTV
✅ Carries local ABC stations and the main ESPN linear networks for marquee, nationally televised LaLiga fixtures without requiring an antenna.
✅ Offers ESPN Deportes either via the dedicated Spanish-first tiers (such as Óptimo Más) or as an add-on, giving you live TV commentary and dedicated studio coverage.
✅ Includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage and allows simultaneous streaming on unlimited compatible devices connected to your home network.
ESPN+
✅ Streams all 380 LaLiga fixtures throughout the season in both English and Spanish, including every El Clásico fixture.
✅ Provides full match replays, extended highlights, and Spanish football studio shows (such as LaLiga Confidential and ESPN FC) accessible whenever you want.
✅ Bundles Spanish top-flight football alongside extensive European and domestic action, including the German Bundesliga, Copa del Rey, and FA Cup.
Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
Comparing the great attackers
To highlight his point, Xavi compared Ronaldinho's mindset to the relentless drive of Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward famously spent nearly two decades operating at the absolute peak of the sport.
"If you compare him, for example, with Leo Messi, Ronaldinho was like... I've already done my job," Xavi added. "And Messi wanted more. He kept going and going. That's because of mentality, not because of the parties."
Xavi also drew parallels with Neymar's career trajectory after the winger traded Barca for Paris Saint-Germain. He said: "It also happened to 'Ney'. He had a great period at Barcelona, where we won a Champions League and then he signed with PSG. In this case, I also think it was down to mentality."
Sustaining excellence at the top
Xavi concluded his assessment by praising the unparalleled longevity of both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He noted that players who fail to realise their motivation is dropping will never remain the same force on the pitch.
"When you don't understand that your mentality is declining, dropping right down, and you aren't the same player," he concluded. "The same thing didn't happen, for example, with Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, who are like beasts."