A $760k Can of Pepsi

Can of Pepsi costs Ronaldinho $760k

Ronaldinho sits a press conference with the wrong drink.

For soccer legend Ronaldinho, the sweet sensation of Pepsi soothing his burning throat after a tough training session has hurt his bank balance.

The former Coca-Cola ambassador shot himself in the foot when he rocked up to a press conference today sipping on a can of Pepsi - the arch nemesis of Coke in the fizzy drink world.

Safe to say the big wigs at Coke's headquarters in Atlanta weren't happy when they realised Pepsi was getting the advertising they paid for.

They quickly pulled the plug on the endorsement deal and now the Brazilian's pockets are $760,000 lighter.

But perhaps it's just karma working its full circle. Pop star Britney Spears was caught on camera a few years back guzzling a can of Coke even though Pepsi was paying the bills. She too got canned.

This is just the latest blow for Ronaldinho who hasn't been able to find consistent form on the field since leaving AC Milan two years ago.

Just last month, the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year ended his time with soccer club Flamengo and moved to Atletico Mineiro.
According to newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo, the 32-year-old was more interested in hosting crazy parties and often turned up late to training.

But Coca Cola marketing chief Marcelo Pontes said it was just a matter of time before Ronaldinho was given the flick.

``The fact that the player has appeared with a can of Pepsi was the straw that broke the camel's back,'' Pontes told O Estado de Sao Paulo.