Ronaldinho Returns to Football at 46, Joins Ravenna for One Final Match

Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho is set to make a surprise return to professional football, 11 years after announcing his retirement, after signing with Italian third-tier side Ravenna.

The former Barcelona and AC Milan star has one clear objective  to score what could be the final goal of his legendary career.

“He’ll play one game in the hope of scoring the final goal of his career with us,” said Ignazio Cipriani, a hotel magnate who leads Ravenna’s ownership group.

Italian Football TV reported that Ronaldinho is expected to feature in Ravenna’s season opener against Reggiana on Monday at 3 pm ET.

“This is not window dressing or a marketing stunt,” Cipriani said. “Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in Ravenna FC  that is the central point of the operation.”

Cipriani described Ronaldinho’s appearance as a “gift” to the city and the club.

“He has also chosen to make an extraordinary gift to the city and to his new club: he will take to the pitch for Ravenna in an official professional match, with one clear and romantic aim — to try to score the final goal of his career.”

According to The Athletic, Ronaldinho has not joined the team’s preseason training sessions under coach Andrea Mandorlini.

Ronaldinho began his high-profile European career with Paris Saint-Germain in 2001 before spending five seasons at FC Barcelona and three at AC Milan. He later had brief spells with Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, Queretaro in Mexico and Fluminense in Brazil’s Serie A before retiring in 2015.

At international level, Ronaldinho made 97 appearances for Brazil and was part of the squad that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005, as well as the Ballon d’Or in 2005.

He remains the only player in history to have won the Ballon d’Or, World Cup, Champions League, Copa America, Confederations Cup and Copa Libertadores.