Ronaldinho has admitted his 35-metre wonder-goal that embarrassed England goalkeeper David Seaman at last year's World Cup was a fluke, according to one of the Brazilian's team mates.

Seaman was heavily criticised for misjudging the looping free-kick which gave Brazil a 2-1 quarter-final victory in the Japanese city of Shizuoka on June 21, and the Arsenal goalkeeper finished the match in tears.

But Brazil squad member Juninho, who plays for English club Middlesbrough, said in an interview with The Independent newspaper on Tuesday that Ronaldinho had revealed in the dressing room after the game that he mishit the shot.

"He said he tried to put the ball in the opposite angle to where it went, the other corner," Juninho was quoted as saying.

"He mishit it. In the end it was lucky. In football you have to be lucky sometimes."

Brazil went on to win the World Cup for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2-0 in the final.