Neymar leads tributes to retiring Ronaldinho

Neymar says Ronaldinho's artistic style may never be matched after the Barcelona and Brazil icon's retirement from football was confirmed.

Ronaldinho was a member of Brazil's World Cup-winning squad in 2002, and won the Champions League and two LaLiga medals with Barcelona before helping AC Milan to a Serie A triumph in 2010-11.

But the attacker's vibrant style of play and flair for the game made him football's brightest star in the early 2000s - preceding an era of dominance by his Camp Nou successor Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Flamboyant Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar follows in Ronaldinho's footsteps and the €222million man paid a touching tribute to his former colleague.

"What an honour to be part of your history," Neymar wrote on Instagram. "I'll always remember your joy on the field. You've left a legacy that will hardly be beaten in the art of football. Thank you for everything that you did for football lovers."

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Ronaldinho's retirement also drew warm memories and tributes from across the football world, including one of his great Brazilian predecessors Pele, who posted: "I hope you glide through life like you glided through tackles."