More than ten years after his last professional match, Ronaldinho (46) apparently wants to play soccer again. The former World Player of the Year announced his intention to sign with Serie C club Ravenna FC. However, it remains to be seen whether he will actually take the field.
Marketing stunt or serious comeback? Either way, the news comes as a bit of a bombshell: Two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho wants to resume his career at the age of 46. Speaking to *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the Brazilian—who watched the Seleção’s match against Haiti in Philadelphia last night—announced his intention to sign a contract with the Italian third-division club Ravenna FC.
“New colors, same smile,” said the longtime playmaker, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. The comeback is set to be made official next Tuesday at a large-scale event in Miami. The club from Emilia-Romagna is owned by Italian entrepreneur and hotel chain owner Ignazio Cipriani. After he took over in 2024, Ravenna was promoted from Serie D to Serie C and narrowly missed advancing to Serie B last season.
Ravenna owner raves: “He was my idol”
“I can’t wait to dance with the ball again and write a new chapter together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family,” Ronaldinho is quoted as saying. “Soccer has always been a source of joy for me, and I want to bring that spirit to Ravenna.” According to the report, he is also expected to participate in Ravenna’s preseason preparations and training camp. However, there are also plans for Ronaldinho to acquire a stake in the club.
Cipriani, who lives in the U.S. but is originally from Ravenna, emphasizes: “Signing Ronaldinho is something absolutely extraordinary for the club—he was my idol, and his influence on soccer goes far beyond what he achieved on the field.”
Last competitive match nearly eleven years ago
While Ravenna has already pulled off a solid PR stunt with the announcement alone, the Brazilian’s value on the field is questionable. Speaking to the Italian news agency Ansa, Ravenna’s vice president Ariedo Braida confirmed the signing but left open whether Ronaldinho will actually see playing time. “We’ll see if he plays,” said Braida. “But it’s not out of the question.”
The former FC Barcelona star last played in a professional match in September 2015—at the time for the Brazilian club Fluminense. He officially ended his career in January 2018 at the age of 37. During his heyday at FC Barcelona, Ronaldinho was named FIFA World Player of the Year twice and won the Ballon d’Or once. In 2006, he won the Champions League with the Catalans.
