Ronaldinho named EFL Championship stadium as one of the best atmospheres he's played in | OneFootball

The Brazilian legend was full of praise for Fratton Park after a UEFA Cup match in 2008.

Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has played in some amazing stadiums, with amazing atmospheres, in his time.

But, despite the Nou Camp and the San Siro being home to him for a total of eight years, it was actually a club who currently compete in the Championship whom he claimed (via the Sun) has the "best atmosphere in world football".

That accolade belongs to Portsmouth, whose Fratton Park ground has a famous reputation for having a fervent atmosphere - with José Mourinho even using it as an example in the hope of increasing the noise at Old Trafford when he was Manchester United manager.

Ronaldinho couldn't get enough of Fratton Park

After winning the FA Cup in 2008, Portsmouth were placed in a UEFA Cup group a year later with AC Milan. That side was packed with stars, including Filippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and the aforementioned Ronaldinho - with Carlo Ancelotti on the touchline.

And, much to the Rossoneri's surprise, it was Pompey who took a 2-0 second-half lead thanks to goals from Younes Kaboul and Cup final goalscorer Nwankwo Kanu.

But the Italian giants roared back in the final ten minutes, with Ronaldinho himself and then Inzaghi scoring late goals to break Pompey hearts and send Milan through to the Round of 32.

The Brazilian legend's comments certainly brought music to the ears of Pompey fans though, as he said that 'Fortress Fratton' was the "best atmosphere in world football."

Many managers and players alike have before and since echoed Ronaldinho's praise, with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry getting a standing ovation after a two-goal display in a 5-1 FA Cup victory on the South Coast.

He then swapped shirts with Pompey's number 32, Lomana LuaLua, and wore the Portsmouth shirt whilst walking off, saying that he "wore the Portsmouth shirt for those special fans".

Fratton Park is always known to be a tough ground to visit, and there's no doubt that having it in the Championship last season added a lot more intrigue.

One of the most notable moments arrived in early March, when leaders Leeds United travelled from Elland Road, a ground famous for its atmosphere, to Fratton Park - with Colby Bishop netting the winner in a 1-0 Pompey win.

And it said a lot about the atmosphere when the official Leeds United match report stated that the atmosphere inside the stadium "[was] continuing to impress".

Pompey fans are quite special

Despite Pompey's struggles on the pitch over the last 10 years, the average attendances have (excluding the COVID years) always stayed way above 10,000 consistently for home games at Fratton Park, which is a testament to the Pompey fans who worked so incredibly hard to ensure that they would still have a club to support, as financial issues plagued them close to liquidation in 2013.

The club was then brought out by its very own Portsmouth Supporters' Trust (PST) later that year, which just showcased how significant of a factor that the supporters play within the club - and football royalty certainly recognise that too.