Ronaldinho has urged Brazil’s Olympic football team to grab the chance to make history by winning their nation’s first Olympic title at the Rio 2016 Games. The two-time world player of the year and 2002 World Cup winner said his compatriots had to play with joy, despite the pressure of being hosts, after helping draw the groups at the Maracanã on Thursday (14) April.

“They need to enjoy themselves, but more than this, they need to grab this chance to make history,” said the former Barcelona and AC Milan star. “They must have the joy of playing at home. I believe this could help them.”

“If they start well, the fans will push them to the final. This is how they can achieve the dream”

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Ronaldinho spent his peak years with Barcelona between 2003 and 2008 (Photo: Getty Images/Luis Bagu)

Brazil were beaten by Mexico in the London 2012 final, leaving the Olympic Games as the only international title the five-time world champions have yet to win. Neymar is set to lead Brazil’s charge in August – he has already spoken of his desire to inspire his nation to a historic victory in Rio – and Ronaldinho said the Barcelona star would be crucial to their hopes.

“Of course he is an extremely important player, not just for the Olympic team but also for Brazil’s main team,” Ronaldinho said. “Today he is Brazil’s best player, so he is someone who can make the difference.”

Ronaldinho helped draw the groups for the Rio 2016 Olympic football tournaments (Photo: Getty Images/Luis Bagu)

Brazil were drawn in group A with South Africa, Iraq and Denmark, which Ronaldinho admitted had been relatively kind to the hosts. “It turned out to be a good group for Brazil – I believe that they can get through without problems,” he said.

Ronaldinho represented Brazil at two Olympic Games – at Sydney 2000, where they lost to Cameroon in the quarter-finals, and at Beijing 2008, where they finished with bronze – and seems to remember both events fondly. “They were both fantastic experiences, but each very different from the other,” he said. “At the first, I was very young and I saw things in a different way. But then the feeling of winning an Olympic medal was the realisation of a dream.”

Lionel Messi consoles Ronaldinho after Argentina's 3-0 semi-final win at Beijing 2008 (Photo: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill)

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