Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho is set to return to competitive football next month after Italian third-tier side Ravenna announced he will feature in their upcoming derby match. The Serie C club confirmed on Friday that the 46-year-old Brazilian icon will play against local rivals Forli on November 15.
Ronaldinho, who helped guide Brazil to a World Cup victory in 2002 and won the Ballon d'Or in 2005, officially retired from professional football in 2018. The former Barcelona and AC Milan attacker last appeared in a competitive match in 2015 while playing for Brazilian club Fluminense.
Ravenna originally signed Ronaldinho in June. In addition to joining the squad, the player acquired an ownership stake in the club, which belongs to his friend Ignazio Cipriani. Expressing his intent behind the signing, Cipriani stated the aim was "to bring the whole city closer to the team."
Although Ronaldinho stopped short of explicitly confirming he would suit up when he first arrived in Italy in August, he noted the potential to reach a personal career milestone. Sitting on 299 career goals, he left open the possibility of securing his 300th, remarking at the time, "I'm here to help."
The local clash against Forli will take place at Ravenna's Stadio Bruno Benelli. Ravenna currently holds second place in Serie C Group B with 20 points through 10 matches, trailing group leaders Spezia by eight points.
Why It Matters
Serie C represents the third tier of the Italian football league system, operating beneath the top two professional divisions of Serie A and Serie B. In recent years, lower-tier European clubs have occasionally turned to high-profile former international stars and celebrity investors to boost global visibility, ticket sales, and commercial sponsorship. Ronaldinho remains one of the most globally recognized figures in modern football history, remembered particularly for his key role in Barcelona's mid-2000s resurgence and his distinct, highly technical style of play.
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