ALBERT ADOMAH once performed an audacious stepover that left Ronaldinho in his wake.
So it is safe to say the Walsall winger will not be intimidated by facing AFC Wimbledon in Monday’s League Two play-off final.
The former Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough ace used to love imitating tricks and skills from the Brazilian megastar in street kickabouts.
Then incredibly he went on to play against him on his debut for Ghana in 2011 and had the pure cheek to glide past him with a trick out of the great man’s repertoire.
Adomah told SunSport: “I was playing for Bristol City at the time in the Championship and got picked by Ghana to play Brazil at Craven Cottage in 2011.
“I was up against Ronaldinho, a young Neymar, Alexandre Pato, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Lucas … it was like a star-studded who’s who of football.
“Before I became a professional footballer I used to do Ronaldinho skills in street and cage football. I tried to imitate his skills so to be on the same pitch as such an iconic figure was a wow moment of my career.
“And during the game I did his trademark stepover. I’ve got a picture of me going past him. I thought, ‘I’ve just skipped past the most skillful player ever.’
“But I got brought crashing back down to earth as the Liverpool player Lucas, a typical holding midfielder, came steaming in with a sliding tackle.”
Brazil won the game 1-0 thanks to a strike from Leandro Damiao and after the game Adomah managed to snag shirts from Neymar and Pato.
But, almost as incredible as his audacious stepover, Adomah gave Neymar’s shirt AWAY!
He said: “At that time everyone thought it was a done deal he was signing for Chelsea and my brother is a Blues fan so I decided to give it to him.
“But Neymar ended up going to Barcelona instead … and ironically a few years later Pato joined Chelsea on loan. I should try to get it back.
“However, the picture of me going past Ronaldinho is a great memento and memory I’ll never forget.”
Adomah went on to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But fast forward to 2025 and he has had a remarkable season for a 37-year-old… having played in FIFTY-THREE games for Walsall.
Although 34 of them have been off the bench, he has been a crucial impact player for Mat Sadler’s men since deciding to drop down to the fourth tier after leaving Championship side QPR last summer.
‘I’M ONE OF THE FITTEST PLAYERS AT THE CLUB’
He said: “It’s about keeping fit. Last season I only played 18 games for QPR. You get to a certain point in your career where the manager decides whether he wants to select you or go for a younger player.
“I still believe I can play and since day one here the manager has seen I’m one of the fittest players at the club.
“I’m not as sharp as I was before but can still manoeuvre myself around with the ball. My attributes are still there and I’ve played in more than 50 games. It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting or coming on a sub, everyone is part of what we’re trying to achieve.
“It’s up to how the manager wants to utilise his squad and being able to come on fresh and give the team extra energy to get up the pitch has worked well.”
This will be Adomah’s fourth play-off final. He lost with Middlesbrough to Norwich under the arch in 2015 and again with Aston Villa against Fulham in 2018.
But it was third time lucky when he went up with Villa the following year after they saw off Frank Lampard’s Derby.
It ended three seasons outside the top flight for Villa and Adomah is proud he helped get the club back on the up.
‘THE WORST FEELING IN FOOTBALL’
He said: “Losing a play-off final is the worst feeling in football. You just want to get out of the stadium straight away. Yet when you win you want to stay there until the next day and celebrate.
“Promotion with Villa was a huge relief for everyone at the club because we’d failed the previous two seasons.
“There was a lot of frustration and anxiety among the fanbase. I remember a CABBAGE got thrown at our manager Steve Bruce at Villa Park just before he left the club.
“But Dean Smith came in and as a Villa fan was the perfect person to take the club back up.
“And it fills me with pride that we helped get them where they belong and now look at where they are six years later, competing in the Champions League and at the top end of the Premier League.”
Adomah has had a great career – from his Isthmian League days with Harrow Borough, League Two with Barnet, the Championship with a number of clubs and the Premier League at Middlesbrough.
He said: “The only division I’ve not played in yet is League One so it would be great to tick that off. I have no plans to retire yet. I’ve done my UEFA B coaching badges and am currently doing my A but I still have a couple of years left in me.
“It’s been an enjoyable career… from park football to the World Cup. I can have no complaints.”
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