Only nine months ago, it appeared Ronaldinho's international career may be coming to an end. A forgettable first season at AC Milan, one in which he often struggled to get playing time, ensured that the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year did not get a call-up to the Brazilian national team for the Confederations Cup or the team's final World Cup qualifying push. But a recent run of good form has left the door open for his possible return to the Seléçao just in time for the 2010 World Cup.

Times are good for Milan, particularly for Ronaldinho, who has found a new home with a club that has always had a taste for signing Brazilian players -- whether they be good (Kaká), bad (Ricardo Oliveira) or past their prime (Ronaldo). After last season, it appeared Ronaldinho, 29, was destined for the latter designation. But a new season, as well as a new manager, have rejuvenated Ronaldinho, who is playing with an energy and a focus unseen in recent years.

Despite the resurgence in his game, this isn't the same player who dominated the middle of the decade. Gone is the explosive creativity, now replaced by chips, well-weighted passes and an occasional burst down the wing. And although his performance this season has never approached the level of his golden period with Barcelona, Dinho has injected a great deal of excitement into a club in desperate need of just that.

So when he scored two goals in Milan's 3-0 demolition of rival Juventus on Sunday, it was natural for talk of a return to the Brazilian national team to heat up. It also helped that only weeks earlier, Brazil manager Carlos Dunga said he was open to the player's return.

But is calling up Ronaldinho to the national team worth the risk to Dunga? Certainly a spot could be found for Dinho somewhere on the bench, and there is even an argument to be made that he could replace Robinho in the starting XI, given Robinho's current struggles at Manchester City. But in my opinion, Ronaldinho's addition would be an unnecessary risk for Dunga given the central role Kaká now plays with the national team and the poor track record the two players have had as teammates (see Brazil 2006 and Milan 2007).

It's hard to imagine that reuniting the two stars for a third time would yield different, more successful results -- the main reason being that both Ronaldinho and Kaká need to see a lot of the ball to be effective. And although Dinho may have reinvented himself in recent years, the man still needs to get a lot of touches to influence a game. Can those touches be provided without affecting Brazil's current equilibrium? Doubtful.

And even if Ronaldinho were relegated to the bench, away from the team's current starting lineup, an ace in Dunga's back pocket to be used in case of emergency, it would create too much of a distraction. One poor opening-round performance this summer -- a very real possibility given that Brazil will have to face Portugal and the Ivory Coast -- will give rise to cries for Dinho's inclusion in the starting lineup, an added distraction for a coach and team that seem to have it all figured out at the moment.

Oh, the hardships of having too big a talent pool to choose from! But seriously, this will not be an easy or fun decision for Dunga, if Ronaldinho keeps up this run of form.

For now, we wait. Regardless of what the final verdict may be, however, it's nice to see Ronaldinho back in form and enjoying the game again.