Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has announced a return to professional competition 11 years after his last official match. The 46-year-old has joined Ravenna, an Italian Serie C side, with the specific ambition of scoring the final goal of his storied career. Ronaldinho arrived in Italy on Thursday, August 20, to prepare for his official presentation.
The move involves more than just a playing role; the former Barcelona star has become a shareholder in the club. The ownership group is led by Ignazio Cipriani, grandson of Harry’s Bar founder Giuseppe Cipriani. Addressing the nature of the signing, Ignazio Cipriani emphasized that this is not a publicity stunt, confirming that the former Ballon d’Or winner is committed to playing a professional match for the team to add to his career tally.
While it remains uncertain if he will feature in this weekend’s season opener against Reggiana, the return marks his first competitive outing since September 26, 2015, when he played for Fluminense against Goias in the Brazilian Serie A. Throughout his career, Ronaldinho established himself as one of the game’s most influential figures, known for his technical flair and creative dribbling.
His professional resume includes stints at European giants such as Barcelona, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, alongside appearances for Brazilian clubs Gremio, Fluminense, and Atletico Mineiro. Across 647 club-level appearances, he recorded 235 goals and 181 assists. On the international stage, he earned 99 caps for Brazil, scoring 33 goals. His trophy cabinet is highlighted by a 2002 FIFA World Cup title, a 2006 UEFA Champions League victory with Barcelona, and individual accolades including the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. The report also notes that 11 years after retirement, Ronaldinho joins third-tier club in Europe with desire to score ‘final goal’ of his career. The report also notes that the 46-year-old represented European powerhouses like Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG as well as Brazilian outfits like Gremio, Fluminense and Atletico MG, during his playing days. The report also notes that ronaldinho is highly regarded as one of the greatest players to ever kick a ball and rightly so. The report also notes that mesmerising spectators with his incredible dribbling, unbelievable skills and absolute magic on the ball, the Brazilian brought something special to the game.
