RONALDINHO is hoping his return to Brazilian soccer will help him regain a place in the national team so he can play in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

    A day after signing with popular club Flamengo, Ronaldinho said Tuesday on the team’s Web site that he expected his stint in Brazil would help him reach his goal to thrive with the national team again.

    “I returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo. I hope that my work here will put me back in the national team,” the 30-year-old Ronaldinho said.

    Ronaldinho helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but disappointed in the 2006 tournament in Germany and didn’t even make the team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    He played sparingly under coach Dunga after 2006, but new coach Mano Menezes brought Ronaldinho back to the national team for Brazil’s latest friendly, a 1-0 loss to Argentina in Qatar.

    The two-time FIFA Player of the Year is ending a 10-year period in Europe, transferring from AC Milan to sign a four-year contract with Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular club.(SD-Agencies)