Brazilian ex-football star Ronaldinho raps against corruption

Brazil's Ronaldinho has found a second calling after retiring from professional football: rapper.

The former Brazil national and FC Barcelona megastar -- full name Ronaldinho Gaucho -- has released a song along with Brazilian singer Jorge Vercillo decrying corruption in their country.

The 2005 Golden Ball award winner appears in a video, recorded in a studio, wearing a black beret and a white tank top emblazoned with the image of Saint George slaying a dragon.

Halfway through the duet, he plays drums, then breaks out in a 30-second rap solo.

"Love is our game, from start to finish, in my heart there are no longer enemies," he raps.

He then asks the armor-clad Christian saint to slay "the dragon of greed" and corruption, while a chorus bemoans the squandering of public funds in detriment of "schools and hospitals."

This is not the first musical outing for Ronaldinho, 39, who hung up his football cleats in January 2018.

He has also performed with Tunisian rapper K2rhym, and was featured in the official World Cup 2018 song performed by Will Smith, Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi.

Agence France-Presse