Kerry Gaelic footballer Paul Walsh has shared the tale of his unlikely friendship with Brazilian superstar Ronaldnho.
Walsh, who captained the Kingdom minors to the 2018 All-Ireland FC title, idolised the former Barcelona maverick when he was a child, even refusing to cut his curly hair so he could look more like the skillful attacker.
"He was my hero, not just because he was an unbelievable soccer player, the best in the world," Walsh told RTÉ Radio 1's Today show.
"It wasn't just that, it was the way he played the game. He reminded people that sport is to be enjoyed because he was playing for fun when everyone else was playing to win.
"You just knew he was having the absolute time of his life on the pitch. He was more of a character and a life role model than just a sporting role model.
"The joy that he had in the game was never seen by any other person in any other sport either."
One day Walsh sent a message on Instagram to Ronaldinho's brother Assis - who is also his agent - declaring his admiration for the now retired soccer star.
"It was basically me just explaining to him what a fan I was - from Ireland, I was a Gaelic player, that I'd love to show him the sport.
"I was trying not to be too pushy. I had pushed a little bit. I did explain how much he meant to me."
Assis replied, and after a year of correspondence, he messaged Walsh a week ago to tell him Ronaldinho was returning to Rio and he would arrange a meeting if the Irishman flew to Brazil.
That's exactly what Walsh did, and after making his way to the house and enduring a lengthy wait to get in, the man himself appeared.
"I didn't want to tell anyone in case it didn't happen, because it could really not have happened.
"Even when I got to Rio I was waiting outside the gate [of the housing complex] for hours and I didn't think I was going to be let in because no one knew I was coming. Apparently he wasn't in the house or he was asleep or something.
"I was sitting on the kerb with my bag wondering if I'd wasted all my money on the flights... for about two hours.
Finally, I don't know if Assis or somebody got through to the housekeeper, they let the security people know and I got in.
"The housekeeper gave me a cup of coffee. Ronaldinho was in bed he was asleep. Then his friends came over, I think they were planning on having a party. We had a few drinks by the pool, until he finally got up and came downstairs."
Walsh's gamble had paid off. They watched some Copa Libertadores action on TV in the living room, while Ronaldinho was introduced to Gaelic football as Walsh pulled up clips on YouTube. A Kerry jersey was presented to the Brazilian.
"It was the first time in my life I was genuinely star struck, it's a weird feeling. You just can't believe you’re standing in the spot where you are. Not many people get the chance to meet their heroes."
Yerra he's not bad 😜#FootballLegend Could he start against Tyrone🤔?💚💛 https://t.co/JCUsLKif4V
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) August 19, 2021
At this point Walsh began sending photos back to his friends who could scarcely believe what he was telling them.
"I wasn’t planning on telling anyone until I got back, I sent photos from the house to only a few friends. Nobody would believe me.
"It was only because nobody would believe me that I sent the photo of me and him with the jersey and then they must have let it out, because I then began getting messages.
"He was genuinely impressed by [Gaelic football]. I don’t know if he was just being nice because he was genuinely the nicest person you could meet - the first thing he did when he came down the stairs was he came over and he gave me a hug, I presented him with the jersey then. You couldn’t ask for a nicer person to meet.
"It was a dream come true."
