The greatest soccer show on Earth will be without its marquee player when Brazil plays Argentina in a 2006 South American World Cup

qualifier on Wednesday in Buenos Aires.

Conspicuously absent from the showdown will be Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who wants to play, but won't because coach Carlos Alberto Parreira won't let him. Ronaldo was dropped by Parreira last week after asking to be excused from the eightteam Confederations Cup that begins on June 15 in Germany.

With the conclusion of the 10-month Spanish League season last Sunday, the three-time FIFA Player of the Year argued that this summer will be his last chance to rest before the 2006 World Cup. In an all-or-nothing decree that showed who's boss, Parreira told Ronaldo if he doesn't want to play in the Con Cup, then he can't play in today's South American qualifier against Paraguay or at Argentina.

While Parreira has every right to assert his authority, it's a pity he took such a firm stance with Ronaldo. Greatness is measured by how well a player does in epic games, and

more often than not in recent years, Ronaldo has risen to the occasion and taken Brazil with him.

In a performance that only he could produce, Ronaldo used his breathtaking quickness to set up and score three penalty kick goals in Brazil's 31 win over Argentina in a qualifier played last summer. He has scored nine goals in South American qualifying to lead all scorers.

Recent history shows, however, that without Ronaldo, Brazil's yellow jerseys lose some of their glow. He missed 2002 qualifiers with a series of knee injuries and Brazil sputtered to a record six losses. He returned in time for the 2002 World Cup and scored eight goals to lead Brazil to its fifth title.

Now, Parreira will see whether Ronaldo can be replaced by the next generation of supernatural Brazilians. He's expected to start Copa America hero Adriano and possibly Robinho as his strikers, with Ronaldinho and Kaka as the attacking midfielders. Poor Brazil.

Reigning FIFA Player of the Year Ronald in ho just led Barcelona to its first Spanish League title since 1999. Kaka is an emerging soccer artist after two seasons at AC Milan. Adriano scored seven goals in the Copa America last summer, the last one coming in the 93rd minute to tie Argentina in a championship match Brazil won in penalty kicks.

And then there's Robinho, the next great Brazilian. The lithe 21-year-old is making headlines on a weekly basis for domestic league power Santos, where he produces goals that remind people of Pele. Reports out of Brazil have him close to signing with Real Madrid as early as next week, where he would play alongside Ronaldo.

Still, Robinho has hasn't played Argentina in Buenos Aires. Last year's game was a beauty to behold as each side played to their strengths; Brazil through the individual genius of Ronaldo and Kaka, and Argentina through its highly cultured midfield. The difference was Ronaldo and only Ronaldo.