A bonafide legend on the pitch, a cult legend off of it, Ronaldinho certainly understands the importance of enjoying ones life – and pissing of expectant managers.
Long into his semi retirement style’d globe trotting, having a ruddy good to boot, the former World Footballer of the Year has nabbed a part in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s latest sequel to the ‘Kickboxer’ series.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the superstar will play ‘Ronaldo’, (ingenious right) a Brazilian martial arts expert who will become. ‘Mr Miyagi’ type figure, retraining Van Damme and his lethal roundhouse kick – in ‘Kickboxer: Retaliation’.
The movie is scheduled to appear some time next year. Ronaldinho will also be joined in the cast by Mike Tyson, former UFC star Paige VanZant and, the infamous ‘Mountain’ from Game of Thrones himself, Icelandic giant Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.
Hilariously Producer Rob Hickman made no bones about the real reason the former Barca man had been chosen for the film, telling the Reporter :
As producers, much like advertisers and brands, we must look at a potential star’s total value.
In addition to his charisma, Ronaldinho also brings with him 66 million social media followers from all parts of the globe.
Those numbers are an element that a lot of traditional movie stars can’t offer and when we market the film, is something that will be invaluable.
So don’t expect the man to be picking up an Oscar any time soon then.
Still, a sequel we would push over our own mothers to avoid has now become a must watch. And that’s the power of marketing.
Hopefully we’ll get plenty of this.
