Barcelona's two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho said winning the Club World Cup would fulfill a dream he has held since he was a schoolboy.
The Brazilian, who fired Barcelona into the final with a breathtaking performance late on Thursday, said he had fantasized about the intercontinental crown since he was a trainee with home club Gremio.
"I've always wanted to win the Intercontinental Cup," he said. "When I was a schoolboy with Gremio I wanted to win all the titles the club had."
PHOTO: AP
"I remember when I used to go to the ground, there was a plaque saying, `We are the champions of the world,'" he said.
Gremio were the 1983 winners of the Intercontinental Cup, which has now been replaced by the Club World Cup.
Ronaldinho was back to his magical best in Thursday's 4-0 semi-final win over Mexico's Club America, scoring once, setting up two more and hitting the bar in injury time.
He said he was ready for a fierce reception in Sunday's final from fans of Internacional, Gremio's Porto Alegre city rivals.
"I know the Inter supporters will boo me," he said.
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