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Despite His New York Profile, Derek Jeter Was Once Sidelined by an Iconic Soccer Player Endorsed by Late Great Pele at an Exclusive Party

Published 01/03/2023, 10:10 AM EST

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Derek Jeter started his career as a young man who got picked up in the sixth draft of the Yankees in 1992. After playing four seasons in the minor leagues, the former shortstop made his MLB debut in 1995. Since then, the former Yankee has continued to spread his charm all over the Big Apple. The people of NYC loved him, both on and off the field. He also once made it to the top of America’s favorite male athlete unseating the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant in 2011.

But there came a time after Jeter’s retirement from the big leagues when he got upstaged by a Brazilian soccer player, Ronaldinho, at an NYC event. 

Derek Jeter got upstaged!!

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While giving a hint that the former soccer player would sign with a US team in 2016, he hosted a New York launch party for WizPak. At the event, as Derek Jeter arrived with his wife Hannah Jeter, Ronaldinho got mobbed by guests for photos. 

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If anyone could have upstaged the legendary Hall of Famer, it was Ronaldinho. It was one of the rare moments when the former Yankee was getting upstaged by someone. But from the looks of it, he took the whole situation as calm as possible. As he also got clicked with the retired soccer player. 


Another major boost came for the former soccer player. It had happened when the late legend Pele himself called him the best-ever soccer player. 

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 What did the late legend say about the soccer player who upstaged Jeter?

The legendary Brazilian former soccer player Pele once got put in a dilemma. It was about choosing the player he thought had the most impact on the game and the people around. 

But finally choosing the best player of the World Cup 2002, the late legend said, “It is always a difficult task to pick out the best player. But, for me, Ronaldinho has been the player who has played for the longest at the top of his game.”

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Watch this story: Every New York Yankees record broken by MLB icon Derek Jeter

How do you remember the late soccer legend? Also, do you recall any incident where the former shortstop Derek Jeter ever got upstaged? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Written by:

Rakshita Madan

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Rakshita Madan is an MLB author at EssentiallySports. She is an engineering graduate and is currently pursuing her MBA from NMIMS, Mumbai. Rakshita has experience in writing for more than four years now, with one of her writings even getting published in an anthology.
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