Joao Mendes (foto: Instagram)
Ronaldinho’s son, Joao Mendes, surprises fans by signing with Championship side Burnley, despite high expectations for him to follow in his father’s legendary footsteps.
When you’re the son of a football legend like Ronaldinho, the expectations are sky-high, but there’s no guarantee that such expectations will be met. Fans have always had great hopes for Joao Mendes, Ronaldinho's son, given the incredible legacy his father left behind.
Ronaldinho had an illustrious career, shining for Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Milan, where he was nothing short of phenomenal. Now 44 years old, Ronaldinho won the Ballon d'Or once and was twice named the world’s best player. He retired from professional football in 2015, ending his career at Fluminense.
Joao Mendes, who is now 19, has played for Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Boavista, and Cruzeiro before joining Barcelona's youth academy in 2023. However, fans were shocked when news broke that Mendes signed with Burnley, a club in the English Championship, instead of continuing his development at a top-tier club.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on social media, writing, "Ronaldinho’s son Joao Mendes has signed for Burnley." The reactions from fans online were a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"How did this happen? Ronaldinho's son signed for Burnley," one surprised fan commented.
"Ronaldinho's son Joao Mendes has signed for Burnley. I repeat, signed for Burnley," added another.
"When Ronaldinho shows up at Turf Moor on a cold February night to watch his son play against Hull… now that's football," joked a third.