Ronaldinho Set for Shock Return to Football at 46 With Ravenna
Ronaldinho is set to make a shock return to professional football, with the 46-year-old due to play for Italian third-tier side Ravenna in a derby against Forlì on November 15.
It will be his first competitive match since leaving Fluminense in 2015, ending a gap of 11 years. Ravenna signed the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner in a surprise move in June, but he has not played for them yet. So far he has only turned up at a beach unveiling in Marina di Ravenna in August, after the first announcement in Miami.
The club said the game at the Stadio Bruno Benelli will turn the eyes of the world on Ravenna. "[It is] an event set to turn the world's gaze toward the Stadio Bruno Benelli," the club declared.
"The whole soccer world thought it too good to be true, instead we can now officially confirm a grand return: The return of the magic, the smile, and a talent that has captivated generations of fans, regardless of their team loyalties or soccer allegiances."
Ravenna also looked back at how things have built up since he first arrived. "From the announcement in Miami ... To the warm welcome from fans on the beach in Marina di Ravenna, the anticipation has grown, fueled by a mix of excitement, curiosity, and disbelief," the statement continued.
"The vision of President Cipriani, which ignited the fans' imaginations and sparked debate well beyond Italy's borders, now has a concrete date. Ronaldinho will play at the Benelli, opening a new chapter in a story that never ceases to surprise."
This will be his second spell in Italy. He played for AC Milan between 2008 and 2011, and he also had big years at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
The club says his value goes well beyond trophies. "There are footballers who are remembered for what they have won and others also for how they made people feel," the club added.
"Ronaldinho belongs to that rare breed of champions capable of turning soccer into pure joy - through an unexpected move, a moment of creative brilliance, a smile that has bridged stadiums and generations alike."
Ravenna are second in their Serie C group, so the signing could give them a lift on and off the pitch. Club president Ignazio Cipriani, who heads the Cipriani restaurant empire, has said he dreams of seeing the Brazilian score the last goal of his career in Ravenna colours.
"The wait is almost over. The magic is coming back to the field."
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