Even taking into account that the Brazilian season has only just started and he is not fully match fit, the 32-year-old's performance was so ponderous that it raised questions about the wisdom of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's decision to recall him.
Scolari had warned that Ronaldinho would have to justify the decision to give yet another chance to a player who, despite immense natural talent, has played in only fits and starts for his country, blamed largely on his party lifestyle.
He wasted a chance to put Brazil ahead midway through the first half when his weak penalty was saved by England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who also smothered Ronaldinho's attempt to score from the rebound.
"It was established that Neymar would take the penalties but he was changing his shin pad, or something like that," Scolari told reporters.
"Ronaldinho took the ball and nobody is going to ask a player of that experience and with that calibre to back down and let somebody else take it."
It was all a far cry from his performance against England in the 2002 World Cup quarter-final when he set up one goal and scored the second in Brazil's 2-1 win.
Romario played so poorly in Scolari's first game in charge, a World Cup qualifier away to Uruguay, that he was never picked again, despite being one of the country's most prolific strikers.
Scolari managed to resist an incessant media campaign for Romario's recall but his apparent stubbornness paid off as Brazil went on to win a fifth world title.
"He has played 90 minutes for the first time this year last week, so it's to be expected that he is not fully in the conditions that he wants," said Scolari.
"But if he continues working normally, he will comfortably make the next squad."
