Ronaldinho was jealous of how good Man Utd icon was and admitted he wished he could do what he did on the pitch

Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho once admitted his jealously at what a Manchester United icon could do on the pitch that he couldn't.

Ronaldinho was one of the best players in the world during the mid-2000s and is best known during a spell in Catalonia.

He came through the youth team ranks Gremio in his native Brazil before switching to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001.

After two years in the French capital after not claiming any silverware but scoring 25 goals in 77 games, Ronaldinho swapped the Parc des Princes for the Camp Nou which culminated in him winning the Ballon d'Or back in 2005.

The Brazilian won two La Liga titles and the Champions League crown at Barcelona before moving on to AC Milan in 2008, before closing his playing career with spells at Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro and Fluminense before retiring in 2015.

For Brazil, Ronaldinho picked up 97 caps for his country and scored 33 goals between 1999 and 2013.

He was part of the Brazil squads which won the 1999 Copa America, the 2002 World Cup and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Ronaldinho has now been retired from football for a decade but his enduring appeal and legacy lives on thanks to his eye-catching and exuberant performances on the pitch.

Ronaldinho and Manchester United legend Paul Scholes. (Image: Getty)

But the legendary attacking midfielder admitted he could not do everything on the pitch and admitted he was jealous of a Manchester United icon's passing ability.

Speaking about Paul Scholes, the Brazilian once said: "I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?"

During his time at United, central midfielder Scholes won 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions Leagues, the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Scholes ended up playing 718 times for United between 1993 and 2013.

Having originally hung up his boots in 2011, Scholes came out of retirement for United in January 2012 and featured in the FA Cup win that month against Manchester City.

Scholes crossed paths with Ronaldinho during their careers, when the Brazilian was at Barcelona and latterly AC Milan.

But Ronaldinho is far from the only legendary player to speak warmly about Scholes and heap praise on the midfielder, who scored 14 goals in 66 caps for England between 1997 and 2004.

Xavi said: "In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen - the most complete - is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. "

Zinedine Zidane said: "There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own. He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. "

Current City boss Pep Guardiola once said: "Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation."

And Portugal legend Luis Figo said: "I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears."