By Ayobami Okerinde

Barcelona football great, Ronaldinho, has strongly criticised this year’s Brazil’s Copa America squad, stating that the team lacks “joy,” “grit,” and “dedication.”

The 44-year-old also revealed that he would no longer watch the national team play.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, the World Cup winner described the situation as “a sad moment for those who like Brazilian football.”

He wrote, “That’s it, folks; I’ve had enough.

‘This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer. It’s getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority.

“I’ve been following football since I was a kid, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I’ve never seen a situation as bad as this. Lack of love for the shirt, lack of grit, and the most important of all: football.

“I’ll repeat, our performance has been one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Such a shame. I therefore declare my resignation. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa America game nor celebrate any victory.”

Brazil’s Copa América campaign kicks off on June 24 against Costa Rica in Los Angeles. They will subsequently take on Paraguay and Colombia in Group D.